Smart City projects struggle traffic crawl

30 May 2024 CW Team

Residents of Panaji found themselves caught in a frustrating traffic jam due to last-minute roadworks aimed at meeting the Smart City deadline of May 31, causing congestion across the city. The closure of important routes, such as Mala-Bhatlem and the stretch from St Inez Church to Casa Macau, hindered commuters' movement. Additionally, obstacles like piles of mud and exposed manholes along key arteries like Rua de Ourem, near the Customs House, and outside Panaji police headquarters worsened the situation.

With interior roads inaccessible due to ongoing construction, motorists had to use the main DB Road, increasing traffic density and leading to significant delays in commute times. "I usually take the road from Santa Cruz to St Inez via Bhatlem every day, but I wasn't aware of the road closure on Tuesday," said a working professional from Panaji. "So, I had to turn back and use DB Road, where I got stuck in slow-moving traffic for 25 minutes."

The traffic jams also affected pickup trucks and goods vehicles, whose drivers typically choose interior routes to avoid congestion on main roads. "My client's business establishment is in St Inez, and I had plans to deliver goods on Tuesday," said a supplier. "We rescheduled the delivery for Wednesday due to road closures."

One student shared her experience of navigating through the traffic to reach her tuition class. "Most of my classmates live near the class, and I ride my bicycle for 3km to get there," she said. "It took me 45 minutes to reach my destination."

As Panaji deals with the consequences of the last-minute roadworks, commuters should prepare for potential disruptions in the days leading up to the Smart City deadline.

Infrastructure Urban

10 Sep 2025

India Achieves TEC Certification for Indigenous Telecom System

India’s semiconductor ambitions received a major boost as a telecom system built with indigenously manufactured chips secured Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) certification.Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the achievement on X, calling it a “big leap for India’s semiconductor story.” For the first time, a telecom system powered by Indian-made chips has successfully cleared all standards and quality tests.TEC certification, issued by the Department of Telecommunications, confirms that the product meets stringent benchmarks for performance and quality. This mileston..

Mumbai Metro Line 4 Trial Runs Set to Begin This Month

Trial runs on Mumbai Metro Line 4 are expected to commence this month, with passenger services on its initial phase likely to start by the end of 2025. The Green Line will operate between Kasarvadavali and Wadala, covering 32.3 km with 32 stations, providing much-needed relief to commuters in eastern and central Mumbai and Thane.Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) officials stated that work is advancing rapidly on a 10.5-km section between Gaimukh and Cadbury Junction, which includes 10 stations. This stretch will open first, followed by the remainder of the line.Approxima..

Mumbai Metro Line 11 Approved, Extending Corridor to Gateway

The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the Mumbai Metro Line 11 project, extending Line 4 along the Wadala–Thane–Kasarvadavli route to the Gateway of India. The 17.5 km corridor, comprising 13 km underground and 4.3 km elevated sections, is estimated to cost Rs 23,488 crore and will feature 14 stations. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will implement the project, with central government support provided through equity and interest-free subordinate debt, while the state government will manage the loan component.The original alignment from Wadala to CSMT, which trav..