After 4 years, Smart City opens Tonca road with open pits and no footpaths
Panaji: The 200-metre stretch from Taad Maad to the Tonca sewage treatment plant (STP) has been opened — after a long delay — for vehicular traffic, even as workers and engineers scramble to put the finishing touches.
Though the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) said that the road was completed, some sections of the footpaths remain incomplete, with paver blocks yet to be placed. Open pits, gravel, and other construction materials are visible along the stretch.
Street lighting is also yet to be completed. Debris, metal barricades, sewerage pipelines, and cement blocks remain strewn along the stretch.
The IPSCDL said that the construction of the concrete road at St Inez is complete and that it met the high court mandated deadline of May 31.
'The road was re-laid using high-grade, durable concrete, with the addition of footpaths for pedestrians. With the project now complete, the new road is fully traffic-ready,' said an IPSCDL official. 'That will facilitate smoother vehicular movement, improved stormwater drainage, and safer passage for both motorists and pedestrians.'
Travelling on the St Inez Road to Tonca and the Caculo mall junction stretch became a nightmare for residents and commuters after IPSCDL decided to dig up the Taad Maad junction around four years ago.
'The road is now open to the public, representing a key milestone in Panaji's ongoing infrastructure transformation under the Smart City Mission,' the IPSCDL official said.
IPSCDL got the contractors to hurriedly clear up the challenging 200-metre stretch, which emerged as a 'focal point' of the Smart City Mission, particularly the sewerage renovation project.
The sewerage network required extensive underground utility works, including the installation of a 710-mm diameter trunk sewerage line at the Taad Maad junction. However, the new sewerage line has yet to be connected to the Tonca STP, with work nearing completion.
'The new sewerage line was laid in a manner that ensures the existing line remains intact and fully functional. Once the new line is connected to the STP and commissioned, the old line will become redundant,' an IPSCDL engineer said.
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Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
After 4 years, Smart City opens Tonca road with open pits and no footpaths
Panaji: The 200-metre stretch from Taad Maad to the Tonca sewage treatment plant (STP) has been opened — after a long delay — for vehicular traffic, even as workers and engineers scramble to put the finishing touches. Though the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) said that the road was completed, some sections of the footpaths remain incomplete, with paver blocks yet to be placed. Open pits, gravel, and other construction materials are visible along the stretch. Street lighting is also yet to be completed. Debris, metal barricades, sewerage pipelines, and cement blocks remain strewn along the stretch. The IPSCDL said that the construction of the concrete road at St Inez is complete and that it met the high court mandated deadline of May 31. 'The road was re-laid using high-grade, durable concrete, with the addition of footpaths for pedestrians. With the project now complete, the new road is fully traffic-ready,' said an IPSCDL official. 'That will facilitate smoother vehicular movement, improved stormwater drainage, and safer passage for both motorists and pedestrians.' Travelling on the St Inez Road to Tonca and the Caculo mall junction stretch became a nightmare for residents and commuters after IPSCDL decided to dig up the Taad Maad junction around four years ago. 'The road is now open to the public, representing a key milestone in Panaji's ongoing infrastructure transformation under the Smart City Mission,' the IPSCDL official said. IPSCDL got the contractors to hurriedly clear up the challenging 200-metre stretch, which emerged as a 'focal point' of the Smart City Mission, particularly the sewerage renovation project. The sewerage network required extensive underground utility works, including the installation of a 710-mm diameter trunk sewerage line at the Taad Maad junction. However, the new sewerage line has yet to be connected to the Tonca STP, with work nearing completion. 'The new sewerage line was laid in a manner that ensures the existing line remains intact and fully functional. Once the new line is connected to the STP and commissioned, the old line will become redundant,' an IPSCDL engineer said.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Time of India
St Inez sewerage work over, road fixes near completion
Panaji: The sewerage line from Taad Maad shrine to the Tonca sewage treatment plant (STP) has been completed, paving the way for the road to be repaired and made motorable, the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) IPSCDL said it has also laid the final layer of asphalt across all roads in the capital city that were dug up under the Smart City Mission . However, within hours of the IPSCDL announcing that the roads were repaired, the PWD's sewerage division began digging up roads, including the D B Road.'Significant progress is also underway on St Inez road, where 3,000m of concrete roadwork is nearing completion. The crucial sewerage line connection from Taad Maad shrine to the STP was successfully executed, paving the way for final touches on the road surfacing ,' said IPSCDL managing director Sanjit said that any digging near D B Road should not be attributed to the completion of the resurfacing of roads in the city, aside from St Inez, marks a significant milestone in the transformation of central Panaji's core road repaired roads are MG Road from St Inez Junction to UCO Bank, SV Road, T B Cunha Road, 18th June Road, Cunha Rivera Road, and smaller road stretches around the municipal market. The IPSCDL said that the next step would involve road painting and installation of traffic signages by May 31. The IPSCDL will focus on plantation drives from June 1 to June 30 to enhance urban greenery and improve ecological balance . 'Special care is being taken to ensure higher survival rates of planted trees through climate-resilient techniques and regular monitoring,' Rodrigues said.'We are well on track, with substantial progress made across key project areas including road surfacing, signage, and utility integration. Our teams have worked diligently to ensure quality execution with minimal disruption to public life. As we approach the final stretch, our focus remains on timely delivery, sustainable landscaping, and long-term urban resilience.'
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: 2-way traffic on Pakhowal road overbridge sans MC nod
In a surprising move, the city's traffic police threw open the Pakhowal road railway overbridge (ROB) to allow two-way traffic without seeking permission from the Municipal Corporation (MC). The ROB, a key infrastructure project constructed under the Smart City Mission, was designed to accommodate single-lane, one-way traffic to ensure commuter safety and structural stability. On Saturday, traffic authorities decided to allow movement in both directions, citing the need to address persistent traffic congestion in the area. The decision has raised eyebrows within the civic body with senior officials questioning the move. 'The overbridge was planned and designed for single-direction use. Allowing two-way movement without consulting the Municipal Corporation can compromise safety,' said a senior MC official, who didn't wish to be named. Jaskaran Singh, a city resident, said the overbridge was constructed only for one-way traffic due to which underpass has been made for the commuters because there is less space for commuters to travel. For years, commuters heading to Hero Bakery Chowk, Dugri, Ferozepur Road, Bhai Bala Chowk and Bharat Nagar Chowk have grappled with severe traffic snarls, particularly during peak hours. Traffic police officials defended the move, stating that it was aimed at easing bottlenecks and streamlining vehicular flow along one of Ludhiana's busiest corridors. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP), traffic, Gurpreet Singh, said, 'We have opened it only for two days on trial basis. If there is any problem, we will shut the two-way traffic.' 'We have taken this decision in the interest of people. Traffic patterns will be monitored closely, and necessary adjustments will be made, if needed,' said another traffic police officer overseeing the transition, who too sought anonymity. Civic body officials fear that two-way traffic on a structure not designed for such load could lead to accidents and further infrastructure damage. They added that no formal study or safety audit was conducted before implementing the change. The ROB had replaced an old railway crossing that often caused long delays and its construction was seen as a major milestone for Ludhiana's Smart City project.
