Infrastructural development must extend beyond urban centres aspiring to become ‘smart cities’
A quick look at the salient points of the Goa Regional Plan 2021 reveals broad recommendations such as the need to upgrade essential services like water supply, sewage, electricity, and transportation to meet increasing demands. However, the plan stops short of offering any concrete strategies or execution frameworks. The real challenge lies in the lack of coordination between key departments, particularly the Public Works Department (covering water, roads, and sewage) and the Electricity Department. If the ministers heading these portfolios work in collaboration and actively engage local panchayats and Village Development Committee (VDC) members for ground-level insights, many of these persistent issues could be resolved efficiently.
Infrastructural development must extend beyond urban centres aspiring to become ‘smart cities’; it should encompass every village that forms the backbone of the state. Villagers contribute through taxes just like urban residents and deserve the same quality of services. Strengthening rural infrastructure not only supports equitable development but also makes it easier to plan due to controlled population. Well-planned village infrastructure is also easier and more cost-effective to maintain in the long run. One significant shortcoming of the Goa Regional Plan is its lack of concrete design frameworks for infrastructure, both in cities and villages, and insufficient foresight about how these systems will endure over a 20-year horizon.
For a village like Santo Estevam, the need is both immediate and deeply personal: how can we build roads, water networks, optional sewage systems, and power supply that are not only functional today but remain robust, safe, and future-ready for generations to come? Enter a visionary approach: multi-layered utility road infrastructure. While this may sound like something reserved for big cities, the concept is surprisingly practical and transformative for a vibrant village like ours.
In Santo Estevam, the ongoing installation of underground electric cables has worsened the condition of already ageing roads — some over 20 years old — leaving them riddled with potholes and unsafe for daily use. During excavation, the absence of a comprehensive master plan for the village’s water infrastructure has led to frequent damage to 40-year-old pipelines. This uncoordinated approach has triggered a cycle of temporary repairs, inconvenience for residents, and escalating costs — all of which could have been avoided with thoughtful planning and integrated design.
Traditional systems, where utilities are buried wherever space allows, create a spider web of disorganised services that are difficult to maintain. A fault in one layer can disrupt the entire village. Worse, repeated trenching of roads damages them, creates traffic hazards, and consumes precious funds that could be better utilised.
Imagine a village road that’s more than just a path for cars and bikes — it becomes a backbone of public services, a system where each utility has a designated place, protected and accessible.
The concept? Think of the road as a capital “T” sitting inside a “U.” The top slab of the “T” carries daily traffic. The vertical stem houses the layered utilities, with sewage at the base, electric conduits above it, and drinking water pipelines on top, just below the surface. On either side of this utility shaft are walkways wide enough for a person to stand and perform maintenance safely and comfortably — no need to dig, disrupt, or detour.
How It Works—And Why It’s Better
This kind of integrated infrastructure draws inspiration from successful models in cities like Tokyo and Singapore, but it is scaled for a village. Here’s why it would work beautifully in Santo Estevam:
Improved health and sanitation: By placing the sewage pipes at the base, gravity helps with flow, and keeping them sealed off prevents contamination of water lines and surrounding soil.
Safe and reliable electric supply: Elevated above the sewage and securely insulated, electric conduits can be accessed easily without risk during repairs.
Protected drinking water: Our water is too precious to risk contamination. Elevated placement, away from sewage and within a sealed environment, ensures safety and quality.
No more road digging: Maintenance crews can enter from side hatches, walk along built-in corridors, and fix leaks or faults without ever touching the road surface.
Faster response times: In case of pipe bursts or electric failures, the layout allows easy inspection, reducing delays and guesswork.
Earthquake resilience: With flexible joints and modular segments just 1.5 to 2 metres long, the system can absorb tremors and settle safely without collapsing.
Yes, the initial investment is higher than conventional trench-and-fill techniques. However, when we consider the lifecycle cost — including repeated repairs, public health crises, road repaving, and missed opportunities due to unreliable utilities — the multi-layered design proves far more economical over time. Moreover, the design allows for future expansion, such as fibre optic internet, smart sensors, or chilled water-cooling systems, without cutting the road.
Santo Estevam has the potential to lead the way in Goa by embracing this forward-thinking infrastructure model. With our strong cultural roots and commitment to environmental stewardship, we’re uniquely positioned to become a model village that seamlessly blends tradition with innovation. A practical starting point would be to undertake a comprehensive mapping of utilities, creating a clear, bird’s-eye view of all existing pipelines and service lines.
No village becomes future-ready in a day — but every meaningful transformation starts with dialogue, evolves into a plan, and ultimately depends on a united community effort. Too often, it is the ‘solution’ itself that becomes the barrier, especially when it’s disconnected from local realities. Grounded in the principles of the circular economy and sustainable village development, this concept invites fresh thinking — with the hope that innovative ideas from engaged citizens are genuinely considered by the Government of Goa.
If implemented successfully here, the approach could be scaled and replicated across the state. Furthermore, the local Member of Parliament has the opportunity to support this initiative through the MPLAD scheme, channelling funds into infrastructure that will serve generations to come. The road ahead — literally — can be cleaner, stronger, and smarter. And it starts beneath our feet.
Dr Cheryl Dias is a renowned academician, dedicated researcher, and committed environmentalist.
Venan Dias is an Educational and social entrepreneur vocal on issues related to governance, poverty, education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.
