PANAJI
Admitting to lethargy on the part of various government departments and agencies entrusted with the execution of projects under the 'Smart City' initiative Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate on Friday co-ordinated a meeting of officials to review progress and step up execution pace at the Corporation of the City of Panaji.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Monserrate, who is also the MLA of Panaji, said the Panaji football ground which is currently under construction at the erstwhile 'Parade Grounds' in Campal will be complete by 2023.
Monserrate who was flanked by his son Rohit, who is the CCP Mayor, and CCP Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Naik, admitted that there is some lethargy among departments which causes delays.
"You have to live with it and manage," Monserrate said.
The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) has taken up projects in Ribandar, including a sewerage network and treatment plant, smart street lighting and redesigned streets worth Rs 61.5 crore, which has a completion deadline that ends in mid-2023.
Landscaping, intersection redesign and plazas are part of the initiative.
Also, four major roads in the capital city, including the one from the Old Patto bridge to the Four Pillars junction running parallel to the Rua de Ourem creek have been tendered for development as smart roads.
Another major road tendered for development as a smart road is the 3.7-kilometre long stretch at St Inez.
The IPSCDL projects are being executed through the GSIDC, GSUDA, PWD and the Electricity Department, Monserrate said, adding that Friday's coordination meeting was attended by officials of these departments and agencies.
