Goa government gives green signal to Panaji Smart City proposal

PANAJI: The Goa government has approved the Rs 981.11 crore proposal for Panaji Smart City which would be submitted to the Union Urban Development Ministry today, a senior official said here.

"The proposal has major thrust on eco-mobility, public transport system and improvement of conservation zones," Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation's Managing Director Sanjith Rodrigues told reporters here last evening.

Rodrigues said the government is confident to get Panaji in the list of first 19 cities which will receive funds this year.

The High Powered Coordination Committee (HPCC) on Smart City headed by Chief Secretary R K Srivastava yesterday granted its final approval to proposal, which will be submitted to the Centre today.

Rodrigues said the proposal looks at Rs 304.22 crores share by Central and State government respectively over next five years.

Another Rs 299.98 crore is expected to be funded through public private partnership (PPP).

The Smart City Mission consultant, ICLEI South Asia, had drafted Rs 1313.74 crore proposal for the city, which as per final proposal was reduced to Rs 981.11 crore, following revised guidelines from the Union Ministry.

"Of the total 304.22 crore state share, the entire amount would be contributed by the Goa government, as the financial position of the CCP (Corporation of the City of Panaji) does not allow it to take up such huge proposal," Rodrigues said.

He stated while government is spending around Rs 304.22 crores over next five years, a revenue of only Rs 14 crores is envisaged during this span.