The Panjim Holistic Master Plan, prepared by LKS Global will be used as the foundation to draft the Smart City Proposal (SCP) for the State capital under the Smart City Mission.
The Panjim Holistic Master Plan, prepared by LKS Global will be used as the foundation to draft the Smart City Proposal (SCP) for the State capital under the Smart City Mission. The SCP is likely to be submitted to the Union Ministry for Urban Development by the first week of December to ensure that Panjim is selected in the first phase of 20 cities for development as a smart city.
The smart city consultant – ICLEI South Asia – through the second phase of citizen engagement process has identified five key priority sectors for pan city initiatives – urban mobility including transportation, waterways and pedestrianization, solid waste management, E-governance and IT, economy and employment and health and education facilities.
Addressing media persons ICLEI deputy director Sunandan Tiwari said, “It (LKS plan) was a comprehensive plan drafted taking all the stakeholders concerned, including citizens, into confidence. Public views and suggestions were also highlighted in the plan. We will use the Holistic Master Plan as a base document.”
Tiwari also said that other city development plans, drafted towards making Panjim a smart and developed city, would also be looked into. “There could be some changes in the SCP but at this stage it won’t be possible to claim whether our plan will overlap the Holistic Master Plan,” he explained.
The Holistic Master Plan, which focuses on urban mobility, was a dream project of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar and was released in 2014. It is yet to be executed.
The deputy director said that the draft plan would be ready by mid-November and would be sent to the State government for its approval. The plan will then be sent to the Union Ministry for its sanction by the first week of December. “On December 15, cities would be competing to get selected in the list of first 20 for smart city development,” he said.
The draft vision of the SCP is transforming the city into a world class, environmentally sustainable and livable city for all, while preserving its heritage, cultural diversity and ecosystem through innovation and smart solutions.
Apart from pan city initiatives, four potential areas have been identified – improvement of conservation zone (Sao Tome, Fontainhas, Mala); 2 kms or 500 acres redevelopment of underdeveloped pockets for urban poor in Altinho, Bhatlem and St Inez Muslim ward; redevelopment of government colony at St Inez, Altinho and Patto and greenfield in Kadamba plateau.
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Quelle/Source: Oherald, 29.10.2015