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.

Real Estate

26 Jun 2026

Manglam Group to Develop Sheraton Hotel in Jaipur

Manglam Group has signed an agreement with Marriott International to develop a Sheraton hotel on the Jaipur–Ajmer Highway in Jaipur. The project will feature 220 keys and is being developed with an investment of around Rs 3.5 billion across more than 300,000 sq ft.The hotel marks Manglam Group’s third collaboration with Marriott International and forms part of its Rs 10 billion hospitality investment roadmap. The agreement was signed by Amrita Gupta, Director, Manglam Group and CEO, Manglam Spa and Resorts, and Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding Greater China, Marriott Interna..

India Warehousing Show 2026 opens at YashoBhoomi

India's warehousing, logistics, and supply chain ecosystem came together as the 15th edition of India Warehousing Show (IWS) 2026 opened at YashoBhoomi, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi on June 25 (Thursday). Organised by RX India, the three-day event will run from 25-27 June 2026, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, technology providers, and supply chain professionals under one roof. It also features a two-day knowledge conference that will run alongside the exhibition. Inaugurated by Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary - Logistics, DPIIT..

Platinum Corp Launches Bespoke Presidential Suites

Platinum Corp has launched Platinum Stellar: Bespoke Presidential Suites, a luxury residential project on Main Avenue in Santacruz, Mumbai. The project has been positioned as a boutique, design-led development for high-net-worth individuals, business owners and legacy residents from the Bandra-Khar-Santacruz belt.The project has been developed in collaboration with celebrity interior designer Sussanne Khan and follows a design-first approach inspired by Art Deco architecture. It incorporates refined detailing, spacious layouts, premium material palettes and arrival experiences planned to creat..