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When Panaji was shortlisted among the 100 smart cities to be developed across India, many were ecstatic and hoped that the erstwhile Portuguese capital would regain its glorious planned days. But as the consultation process for the Smart City proposal reaches its logical end, the initial joy is giving way to skepticism and indications are that the final Smart City proposal may be nothing more than old wine in new wine skin.

"In terms of searching for ideas per se, it is a fabulous attempt. But I am very skeptical of the government being able to deliver," architect Raya Shankwalker said. "A smart city is a city that responds to the needs of the citizens."

The needs of the citizens have been the same for the last few years and they feature in the key ideas shortlisted for the smart city proposal; urban mobility, solid waste management and e-governance. As far as area conservation goes, Sao Tome, Fontainhas, and Mala find mention.

Planners point out that these are old proposals but skepticism is running high since the earlier plans prepared including the Panaji master plan have yet to be implemented. In 2007, a city development plan was prepared and duly approved for drinking water, sewerage, comprehensive mobility e-governance, development of St Inez creek and solid waste management. Despite shelling out over 1 crore towards seven consultants, not a single one of the seven projects was implemented. This may be one reason why a miniscule number of Ponjekars participated in the consultation process, despite 16% weightage given to citizen participation.

"There is a lag between talk and implementation. Smartness is based on delivering and I would give the foremost importance to simplicity of execution but the timelines that are being talked of are highly unrealistic. I have my doubts about the success of the proposal," Goan urban planner and consultant with the smart city proposal for Silvasa Milind Ramani said.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Smart City Challenge, the idea was to overhaul the unplanned development of cities and to create urban ecosystems that utilized technology to improve the quality of life. "I see no attempt to give basic amenities like cleanliness, utilities. People must have access to basic civic amenities like electricity, safety and ease of moving. The needs of an efficient city are very basic, it must be efficient, clean and safe," Shankwalker said. While on one hand doubts have been raised over the competence of the consultants involved, on the other hand, the manner in which the Smart City proposal has been undertaken has alienated the corporation of the city of Panaji, the main stakeholder of the project.

"From what I see, the city needs funds for infrastructure projects. Mala as an area has been neglected for a long time. Urban mobility is required and the smartness will come in at some point," heritage hotelier Jack Ajit Sukhija said.

Former deputy mayor of the CCP Kabir Makhija Pinto agrees with Sukhija. "The major issues that have to be dealt with priority are a proper traffic plan with parking facilities, modern transport facilities, night patrolling and CCTVs for ensure safety and upgraded sewerage lines," Pinto says.

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Autor(en)/Author(s): Newton Sequeira

Quelle/Source: The Times of India, 21.11.2015

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