The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development (IPSCDL) seems to be considering skipping the smart road work from Caculo Mall to the Tonca sewerage treatment plant (STP) due to practical challenges, despite the May 31 deadline for completing all ongoing smart city work in Panaji.
According to IPSCDL, the cumulative target for completing all road works and making the road functional is May 31. However, they mentioned that this particular stretch might take a "little longer" to finish. IPSCDL stated that major challenges have been encountered in drilling due to the depth of sewerage works along the stretch, which is nearly 8 meters below road level and below the bed of the St Inez creek.
Out of the total 430 metres, the main trunk pipeline of 300 meters has been laid, and work on the remaining 130 meters, which passes under the St Inez creek and connects to the Tonca STP, is currently in progress. IPSCDL added that along this stretch, one out of nine manholes has been completed, and another one is in progress.
IPSCDL, led by its CEO Sanjit Rodrigues, is monitoring the ongoing sewerage work on the stretch on an hourly basis to meet the May 31 deadline. Regarding the stretch from the Four Pillar junction to the Old Patto bridge, the contractor appointed by IPSCDL has completed all major sewerage works, including laying a total pipeline of 1,400 meters, constructing 40 manholes, and installing 80 house connection chambers. Only one inter-connection is pending, which is expected to be completed in a couple of days. Currently, road restoration work is underway.
IPSCDL mentioned that road construction on this stretch for the smart road project can only commence after the Public Works Department (PWD) finishes installing new pumping lines to connect pump houses located at Mala, near Bhandari hospital, and near the income tax office.
