CEO & MD of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd. (IPSCDL), Sanjit Rodrigues announced the successful completion of all major infrastructure projects under the Roads and Sewerage categories, as outlined in the affidavit submitted to the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court on January 27, 2025. IPSCDL remains on track to complete the finishing works by May 31, 2025 as indicated in the order of the High Court, stated a press note.
Road Works
Under the Smart City Mission, a total of 6,850 meters of roadwork has been completed in Central Panaji. The roadwork was structured into three phases:
• Phase 1 (January 2–January 20, 2025) covered 735 meters, including MG Road from St. Inez Junction to Caculo Island (185m), MG Road from Caculo Island to Don Bosco School (275m) and SV Road from Geeta Bakery to DB Road Junction (275m).
• Phase 2 (January 18–February 7, 2025) covered 1,024 meters, with key sections including MG Road from Don Bosco to UCO Bank (354m), TB Cunha Road from Café Bhosle to DB Road Junction (320m), 18 June Road from NGPDA Office to Caculo Island (140m), Cunha Rivera Road from Vinanti to DB Road Junction (40m) and MG Road from Liberty to Vinanti Restaurant (170m).
• Phase 3 (February 8–March 31, 2025) covered 1,415 meters, including MG Road from UCO Bank to Don Bosco School (380m), Market to DB Road (200m), Geeta Bakery to INOX (534m), Tom Liquor Shop to DB Road (200m), and two internal lanes (100m).
The final layer of Bituminous Concrete (BC), along with road painting and traffic signage installation, will commence on April 1, 2025, and conclude by May 31, 2025. This allows the Dense Bitumen Macadam (DBM) layer to settle, ensuring necessary rectifications and will be completed without road closures. Landscaping and tree plantation will be undertaken from June 1 to June 30, 2025, enhancing greenery and ensuring better plant survival.
On St. Inez Road, 2,800 meters of roadwork has been completed, except the 200 meters stretch from Taad Maad to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) where sewerage work is still ongoing. Similarly, at Café Bhonsle Square, roads such as Antao De Noronha Road (70 meters), the adjacent road near Chai Corner (30 meters), and the adjoining road to TB Cunha Road (60 meters – awaiting curing period ) were completed by March 31, 2025.
At Ribandar, IPSCDL successfully completed the widening of the Ribandar First Ferry Ramp on March 31, 2025, to facilitate the upcoming RO-RO ferry service.
IPSCDL clarified that roadworks on 18th June Road, Atmaram Borker Road, Pandurang Pisulekar Road and Rua de Ourem cannot be executed under the current Smart City Mission scope, as the said cannot be taken up in the present form because of the central drains along these roads as well as a sewage pumping line along Rua De Ourem . The Goa Government has taken a note of this and has made a provision in the recent budget to take up these works outside the smart city mission .
During the roadworks, IPSCDL encountered challenges such as shallow ground levels, aging underground infrastructure, and unmapped utilities, requiring additional time and coordination to minimize service disruptions. Despite these obstacles, all planned roadworks have been completed as per the affidavit submitted to the High Court.
Sewerage Works
IPSCDL has successfully completed sewerage work across Central Panaji, significantly enhancing the city’s sanitation infrastructure. Key achievements include:
• Completion of 15 interconnections near MG Road and 18th June Road.
• Construction of 16 manholes , 5 interconnections and 40 house connections in Bhatlem, all now completed.
• Completion of 7 manholes, 2 interconnections and 13 house connections on the Madhuban Circle to India Café stretch.
• Installation of 16 manholes, 2 interconnections and 7 house connections on Taleigao Road from Bhatlem.
• At Altinho, 900 meters of sewer line were laid using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), with 31 manholes, 4 interconnections and 28 house connections completed.
• Sewerage work in Mala, Rua de Ourem and Miramar has been fully completed, including manhole construction, house connections and interconnections.
The ongoing sewerage project from Taad Maad Temple to the STP at Tonca is a critical infrastructure initiative involving the installation of a 710mm diameter main trunk sewer line over 200 meters. Of this, 190 meters have been completed, and the remaining work will be completed soon after which road works will be commenced. . A fresh affidavit will be submitted to the High Court regarding this aspect .
Due to existing utility lines and loose soil conditions, IPSCDL has deployed 80 bore pumps for continuous dewatering and comprehensive shoring to maintain excavation stability on this project . Engineers are closely monitoring the 12-meter excavation round the clock to ensure structural integrity and prevent damage to existing utilities. IPSCDL has reiterated that the shrine and the banyan tree stand unharmed despite all the work undertaken at Taad Maad .
No Road Closures or Digging Under Smart City Mission
Sanjit Rodrigues reassured citizens, saying: “IPSCDL assures the residents of Panaji that as of April 1, 2025, there are no road closures, barricading, open trenching, or digging in Central Panaji, Miramar, Mala, Bhatlem and Altinho , under the Smart City Mission. Any such activity observed in the area is unrelated to our ongoing infrastructure projects.”
