Residents complain civic issues, day-to-day problems ignored
PANAJI
As the March 11 elections to the 30 wards of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) draw near, residents say the democratic exercise is being hijacked by political theatrics.
The sparring between the Monserrate camp and Utpal Parrikar has dominated headlines, but citizens complain that the real issues -- traffic congestion, chaotic parking, waste management, flooding, and the fallout of haphazard Smart City works -- remain unaddressed.
Backed by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate has floated a panel of 30 candidates led by his son, Mayor Rohit Monserrate.
On the other side, the challenger panel Ami Panjekar -- a loose coalition of the Opposition Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and civic veterans like Surendra Furtado and Dattaprasad Naik -- is being projected as mentored by Utpal Parrikar, son of the late Defence Minister and ex-CM Manohar Parrikar.
Yet, with polling day less than a week away, neither side has released a manifesto or spelled out a vision for the city.
Rui Ferreira, a senior citizen residing in an Indo‑Portuguese villa at the foot of Altinho hill, argued that both the Monserrate family and former CM Manohar Parrikar, whose son Utpal is now claiming his political legacy, have left Panaji burdened with congestion, sewage stench, and misplaced monuments.
In his view, neither camp offers genuine solutions, only power struggles even as he sharply criticized the functioning of the CCP and the Smart City project.
He pointed out that while the CCP has a budget of ₹120 crore for 2025‑26, the Imagine Panaji Smart City Corporation Limited -- where both Ataniso Monserrate and his son Rohit serve as directors -- has overseen works worth nearly ₹1,200 crore.
Ferreira alleged that these 'smart city' projects were executed at a great cost to citizens and were even linked to tragic accidents.
"They have prioritized casinos and traffic‑choking pay‑parking schemes over public amenities like parks and community public spaces," he added.
Other residents echoed similar frustrations. “The Smart City works have been executed in a piecemeal manner. The projects are commissioned without planning. It has made daily life miserable,” said Maria Fernandes, a shopkeeper in the municipal market.
For seniors, safety is a pressing concern.
“Crossing the streets has become dangerous. Accidents are spiralling, and there is no accountability. Panaji is a living hell for us seniors,” says, 70‑year‑old Vasanti Naik, who lives at the foot of Altinho.
Another senior, Jovito Lopes, a journalist and long‑time Panaji resident said: “Looking ahead with the CCP elections just days away, you do not get the sense of any positive expectations, as there is no master plan defining the vision, mission and goals unveiled by any of the contesting parties,”
Young professionals, too, voiced discontent.
“Parking is chaotic, and there is no vision for sustainable mobility. We want solutions, not soundbites,” said an architect living in the city.
The “decadent” municipal market, flooding during monsoons, and lack of pedestrian‑friendly infrastructure were repeatedly cited as glaring problems. Citizens say door‑to‑door campaigning has offered little beyond rhetoric. “Candidates seem clueless or unwilling to commit to practical solutions,” remarked another voter.
Observers noted that the CCP polls, meant to be a test of grassroots governance, have instead become a stage for clashes between political personalities.
With residents demanding accountability and concrete plans, the verdict on March 11 will not just be about who wins — but whether Panaji’s civic issues finally get the attention they deserve.
