CM Inspects Smart City Projects, criticises consultants for delays

04 Jun 2024 CW Team

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.

Infrastructure Transport

05 Feb 2026

MMRDA Installs 325-Tonne Steel Spans on Mumbai Metro Line 4

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has achieved a key construction milestone on Metro Line 4 with the successful installation of three large steel spans at Bhandup West during overnight operations.The spans, together weighing 325 metric tonnes, were launched using eight heavy-duty cranes and 12 multi-axle vehicles. The operation required precise engineering and meticulous planning to minimise disruption in the densely populated suburban area.Due to effective inter-agency coordination, the work—originally scheduled across four nights—was completed within just two n..

CMRL Targets March 2027 Opening for Vadapalani–Panagal Park

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is progressing as scheduled to open the Vadapalani–Panagal Park section of Phase II’s Corridor 4 by March 2027. The 3.5 km underground stretch is part of the 26.1 km Corridor 4 connecting Lighthouse with Poonamallee Bypass.Construction activities are advancing steadily, with tunnelling works between Vadapalani and Panagal Park already completed. Track-laying operations are expected to commence shortly. At Panagal Park station, structural works have reached the concourse and platform levels, while excavation continues at the lowest level.CMRL is also consid..

Maha-Metro Invites Pune Metro Civil Maintenance Bids

Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro) has invited bids for the annual civil maintenance contract of the Pune Metro Rail Project. The tender, bearing ID and number P1-O&M-20/2025, is scheduled to close on 23 February 2026, with a pre-bid meeting slated for 10 February 2026. The earnest money deposit (EMD) for the contract is Rs 3,50,500, and the duration of the contract is one year.The scope of work includes annual civil maintenance of 28 elevated and underground stations, 28.079 km of elevated viaduct including steel bridges, 12.15 km of tunnels, and two depots under the ..