PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa was on Wednesday informed that the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Corporation Ltd (IPSCDL) has failed to complete road works within the timeline it had assured the court.
The matter came up during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Christus Cecilio Lopes, a resident of Caranzalem, who submitted an affidavit stating that IPSCDL had not honoured its undertaking to finish the road works by March 31, 2025.
According to the affidavit, the agency had committed and recorded in the court’s order dated February 26, 2025 that the works would be completed within the stipulated deadline. This was treated as an undertaking by the court; however, the reality is far different.
"It is most respectfully stated that IPSCDL has failed to comply with the undertaking given to this Court and works of the road have in fact not been completed by March 31, 2025," the affidavit states.
Photographs submitted with the affidavit showed ongoing work at various locations including the stretch from St Inez Creek to Caculo Mall (Taad Maad), the Mala area, the rear of Hindu Pharmacy, MG Road, the vicinity of Govinda building and Geeta Bakery, Panaji market and parts of St Inez area. The petitioner submitted that as on April 8, 2025, works are incomplete.
The affidavit also pointed to wide media coverage on the delayed works, with visuals indicating that substantial work remained unfinished despite the deadline. It further cited the Mayor’s concern regarding the quality of work being carried out under the Smart City initiative.
The Court has now adjourned the matter for the next hearing two weeks later.
At a press conference earlier this month, IPSCDL CEO Sanjit Rodrigues justified the delay in completion of the entire work while further stating that 90 per cent of the work was complete.
