Daijiworld Media Network- Panaji
Panaji, Feb 4: The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) is set to implement further road closures in the coming weeks as it accelerates efforts to meet its March 31 deadline. With approximately 3.5km of road yet to be repaired and surfaced, progress depends on the completion of ongoing sewerage works.
One of the key roads to be affected is the 535m-long General Bernardo Guedes Road, stretching from Geeta Bakery to the D B Road Junction near Inox, which will remain closed for 20 days. Additionally, two other crucial roads connecting the Panaji market area to D B Road will also be shut down for repairs.
IPSCDL Chief Executive Officer Sanjit Rodrigues clarified that these road closures are not arbitrary but are part of a well-defined plan. "We have given a plan and adhered to it," he stated.
In Panaji’s central area, 3,400m of roadwork has been completed, while another 3,450m remains pending. The remaining work is being executed in multiple phases. Phase I has already been completed, while Phase II, covering MG Road, T B Cunha Road, 18th June Road, and Cunha Rivara Road, is set to conclude by Friday. Phase III will commence on Saturday and continue until the end of February, after which the fourth and final phase of 530m will begin.
In St Inez, 200m of critical roadwork remains, while in Rua de Ourem, 1,380m of repairs are still pending. March will bring additional disruptions as roads in Bhatulem, Mala, and Fontainhas, as well as key commuter routes leading into the city, will be affected. Notably, stretches from the Old Patto Bridge to the Income Tax Office and from the Handicrafts Building to Four Pillar Junction will be closed.
A major sewerage pipeline project from Tadmad to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is also underway, requiring excavation up to a depth of 12m. "The proof of our success is here. It is a gravity line, and the alignment has to be maintained," Rodrigues explained.
IPSCDL has assured that all roads will be tarred by March 31, with the final asphalt coat and lane demarcation scheduled for May. This timeline allows for the settlement of the dense bitumen macadam layer and any necessary rectifications without further road closures. Landscaping and tree plantation work will take place between June 1 and June 30, ensuring better plant survival without disrupting traffic.