Mayor Phassang voices concerns over smart city project delays

The Mayor of Itanagar Municipal Corporation, Tamme Phassang, led an inspection of ongoing smart city projects in the state capital, expressing growing frustration over alleged lapses and delays in their execution. The scrutiny targeted projects such as the under-construction Vendors market and the Artificial Intelligence Multi-level car parking facility in Naharlagun. Mayor Tamme Phassang, who had previously dubbed the car parking project an atom bomb during a prior visit to TRIHMS campus, voiced concerns about irregularities in the multi-crore Vendors market project. Phassang expressed worry about the delay in completing the G5 building of the vendor market, which is nearing its deadline. This delay has caused significant financial hardships for many vegetable sellers, depriving them of their livelihoods and daily income. In October of the previous year, a massive fire ravaged the Daily Market in Naharlagun, destroying over 700 shops that were the primary source of income for numerous local women vendors. Although there were no casualties, goods worth several crores were reduced to ashes. Similar concerns were raised by Mayor Phassang regarding the multi-level automated car parking project, contributing to ongoing traffic issues in the area. Corporators submitted written complaints, urging the state government to take action against the construction companies responsible for these critical projects. The Vendors market project, awarded to Tas Foundries, an Ahmedabad-based company, through the EPC mode, had a one-year completion target set for December. However, the work is reportedly only 20% complete and unsatisfactory. In the case of the 28-crore multi-level automated car parking project, Mayor Phassang called for transparency regarding the project awarded to the Korean company, Neuros Intelligent Management System (NIMS). He criticised NIMS for their lack of experience in elevator construction and emphasised potential threats to public safety in the future. Mayor Phassang, who serves as the local corporator for Ward no 17 of Naharlagun, responded to complaints by personally visiting the area and issuing a stay on construction activities. The Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) has issued a notice, instructing the executing agency and contractor to maintain the status quo until they submit a report on the project's parameters and its substantial Rs 280 million cost. The fully Automated AI-based Smart Parking System at TRIHMS Tomo Riba Institute of Health & Medical Science in Naharlagun is part of the Smart City mission and is being executed under the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contract mode with a cost of 274.9 million and a completion target of December 2023. The Itanagar Smart City Development Corporation Limited (ISCDCL) has overseen the tender process for this multi-level automated parking lot, capable of accommodating 72 cars simultaneously. Mayor Tamme Phassang, in an exclusive interview, criticised NIMS for their work on the multi-level car parking project at Naharlagun inside the TRIHMS hospital compound, emphasising potential threats to the lives of people who will park their cars there.