Sawant to review smart city projects

Panaji: With completed Smart City Mission and AMRUT projects in disrepair due to a lack of maintenance, authorities are exploring the option of a policy to ensure that the Corporation of the City of Panaji maintains the infrastructure created in the state capital.

The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) board intends to meet with chief minister Pramod Sawant to review the future of the completed projects.

“There are some issues on how the projects will be maintained and handed over. On this, there will be a smart city board meeting, and we have sought time from the chief minister. The chief minister has promised us that he will hold a review,” IPSCDL chief executive officer Sanjit Rodrigues told reporters.

Rodrigues said that the review meeting will be held after the two-day assembly session that will begin on Thursday.

The Rs 2.5 crore mangrove boardwalk behind the Central Library, the Rs 12 crore Miramar beach beautification project, and various steps across the city have slowly fallen into disrepair.

Rodrigues said that an internal discussion has been initiated to decide what happens to the infrastructure once the defect liability period or maintenance contract lapses and the project is handed over to the civic body or other agencies.

“A plan will come out. There is a policy that will come for this. Let the policy come, and we will definitely adhere to it,” said Rodrigues.

The IPSCDL is currently executing several projects with May 31 being projected as the final date for completion.