+
CM Inspects Smart City Projects, criticises consultants for delays
SMART CITIES

CM Inspects Smart City Projects, criticises consultants for delays

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the quality of work on the 'smart city' projects is "ninety per cent" and acknowledged that some problems may arise. He added that the same contractors will be required to resolve any issues whenever they occur.

Sawant urged residents in the capital to connect their homes to the new sewerage system, warning that failure to do so would result in the disconnection of power and water connections. He mentioned that nearly 50 sewerage outlets currently flow into the St Inez creek, and once the new sewerage system becomes operational, this would cease, provided citizens connect to the new system.

Sawant made these remarks to the media while inspecting various sites where smart city work had been carried out and remained incomplete a day after the High Court's designated May 31 deadline. He was accompanied by Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, who represents Panaji, his son and mayor Rohit Monserrate, and officials including IPSCDL managing director and CEO, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS.

Sawant also attributed the delay and failure to meet the May 31 deadline to the planning consultants engaged by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL). He mentioned that the majority of the sewerage work in Panaji has been completed and that the newly concretized roads are expected to remain problem-free for the next 25 years.

Regarding Panaji's flooding issues, Sawant explained that the city faces a unique problem when high tides coincide with heavy rainfall. The city has three main storm water drains, but when the water level in the Mandovi river is high, the storm water cannot flow out, resulting in floods. He mentioned that a long-term solution involving the installation of a "sluice gate" and pumping out excess water is being considered.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the quality of work on the 'smart city' projects is ninety per cent and acknowledged that some problems may arise. He added that the same contractors will be required to resolve any issues whenever they occur. Sawant urged residents in the capital to connect their homes to the new sewerage system, warning that failure to do so would result in the disconnection of power and water connections. He mentioned that nearly 50 sewerage outlets currently flow into the St Inez creek, and once the new sewerage system becomes operational, this would cease, provided citizens connect to the new system. Sawant made these remarks to the media while inspecting various sites where smart city work had been carried out and remained incomplete a day after the High Court's designated May 31 deadline. He was accompanied by Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate, who represents Panaji, his son and mayor Rohit Monserrate, and officials including IPSCDL managing director and CEO, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS. Sawant also attributed the delay and failure to meet the May 31 deadline to the planning consultants engaged by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL). He mentioned that the majority of the sewerage work in Panaji has been completed and that the newly concretized roads are expected to remain problem-free for the next 25 years. Regarding Panaji's flooding issues, Sawant explained that the city faces a unique problem when high tides coincide with heavy rainfall. The city has three main storm water drains, but when the water level in the Mandovi river is high, the storm water cannot flow out, resulting in floods. He mentioned that a long-term solution involving the installation of a sluice gate and pumping out excess water is being considered.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Real Estate

Anshul Singhal launches Vantrock with Rs 42 billion development plan

Real estate professional Anshul Singhal has launched Vantrock Real Assets Private Limited (VRAPL), a Mumbai-headquartered platform focused initially on warehousing, industrial and logistics parks. The company plans to develop approximately 11.5 million sq ft of assets, with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of Rs 42 billion (approximately USD 434 million) on completion.The first phase will cover around 3 million sq ft across the National Capital Region (NCR), Bengaluru and Pune, with an estimated development value of Rs 11 billion (approximately USD 113 million). Construction is sched..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Afcons wins CII award for biodiversity management

Afcons Infrastructure has received the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) National Award for Environmental Best Practices 2026 in the Biodiversity Management category for its work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project’s C-2 package.The award was presented at a ceremony in Chennai on 9 October 2026. It was received by Mihir Mishra, Vice-President, CPE, and Sumon Paul, Assistant General Manager, HSE, along with the Afcons team.The project adopted several resource recovery and waste management practices. These included recycling concrete washout waste to recover sand, aggregates a..

Next Story
Technology

Indian businesses lead globally in planned AI investment, says Autodesk

Indian organisations are moving towards deeper integration of artificial intelligence (AI), digital technologies and sustainability into business operations, according to Autodesk’s 2026 State of Design & Make report. The fourth edition of the annual study highlights growing AI adoption, measurable outcomes from digital transformation and the role of sustainability in long-term business growth.The report found that 64 per cent of Indian organisations are approaching or have achieved their current AI goals. While 88 per cent believe AI will enhance their industry, up from 78 per cent in 2..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code