MAPUSA
While the ongoing underground power cabling work is nearing completion in Mapusa, at least four infrastructure projects worth about Rs 31 crore have either remained stuck or moving at a snail’s pace reportedly due to lack of funds.
Invariably, delays in completion affects economic cost of the projects and time overrun leads to cost overrun due to increase in input cost.
“Time delays may be attributed to several factors including the Covid-19 pandemic. Further, the government may be slow on payments keeping in mind the fiscal situation. This leads to an increase in cost overrun,” a senior government official said.
Work on four major projects “ the six floor commercial project, refurbishing of the municipal library, second phase of fish market and MMC’s new administrative block “ has been dragging on for several years and the projects have missed several completion deadlines.
Sources said that at least two of the projects could be inaugurated before the code of conduct for parliamentary elections come into play.
SIX-FLOOR COMMERCIAL PROJECT
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) decided to construct the commercial project in place of the municipal garage near the Alankar theatre in Angod, Mapusa.Work on the project was launched by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 20 crore and was expected to be completed within 18 months.
As per the plans, seven shops have been planned on the ground floor and 14 on the first floor while the remaining five floors would house offices. A provision for parking of 52 cars has been made in the basement.
However, soon after work on the project started, Covid pandemic struck and the work on the project slowed down. Financial constraints also added to the delay.
The fresh completion deadline is March 2024.
FISH MARKET SECOND PHASE
Work on the second phase construction of the fish market has been dragging for the last seven years.
With the fish market on the ground floor and the chicken and mutton shops located on the first floor of the building, the MMC decided to construct an exhibition hall on the second floor with an intention to hand it over to self-help groups of Mapusa.
The estimated cost of the project was Rs 4.79 crore and was expected to be completed in 2018. Although the work is nearly complete, officials remain mum on handing over the project to the MMC.
REFURBISHING OF MUNICIPAL LIBRARY
The renovation and restoration work of the old Mapusa municipal building was taken up by GSUDA at an estimated cost of around Rs 3.8 crore.
As per the plan, the entire ground floor of the building will be dedicated to the library which will be compartmentalised in various sections including offering reading facilities to senior citizens. Besides re-roofing, the entire building will be repaired, re-plastered and painted. Tile flooring and furniture/wood work is also included in the plan.
The work on the project was started in November 2022 and was expected to be completed within six months.
Senior officials said that the project is expected to be completed by January 2024.
MMC’S NEW ADMINISTRATIVE BLOCK
The work on the new administrative block of the MMC was taken up in December 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs 2.67 crore.
The proposed three-storied building will have a parking facility in the basement while the first floor will be reserved for commercial activity including shops and offices. A hall has been proposed on the second floor which will be used to organise council meetings.
The work is progressing at a very slow pace and nobody is willing to set a completion deadline on the project.
