Saturday 02 Nov 2024

Smart City works: Mayor objects to shutting down Panaji's main roads

THE GOAN NETWORK | NOVEMBER 02, 2024, 01:14 AM IST

PANAJI
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Rohit Monserrate will object to the proposal of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) and its contractors to resume work post the monsoon by simultaneously shutting down five major thoroughfare roads of the capital.

Monserrate, who also has a seat on the IPSCDL Board of Directors, said the issue of resumption of work, schedule and its impact on the city's day-to-day affairs has not been discussed or approved.

"It is madness to shut all the five roads at the same time. It will give rise to chaos," Monserrate said, adding that he will raise the issue and place on record the objections to the plan.

IPSCDL has formally sought permission from North Goa Collecter Sneha Gite, IAS, to shut five roads in the city, including the two thoroughfare roads -- MG Road and 18th June Road. The application also seeks Gite's nod to cut the roads for the residual work of the new sewerage network being built for the 'Smart City' mission.

Other roads that the IPSCDL proposes to shut include the Swami Vivekananda Road, Cunha Rivera Road and the T B Cunha Road.

Monserrate said, residents and commuters will have to face the brunt of the impact, just like last year, if all these roads are shut and work is carried out as IPSCDL and its contractors intend to do.

Asked if the CCP will formally object to IPSCDL's application before the Collector, Monserrate said he will first discuss the issue at the BoD meeting of the IPSCDL and if not resolved there then formal objections will be filed with Gite.

Apart from the residual works related to the sewerage system, the IPSCDL is restarting work on the specially designed footpaths and also laying of some underground service pipelines.

Share this