Even after the works have been completed, navigating the Smart City roads of Panjim, the State capital, on a motorised vehicle may not be the easiest of undertakings. There are still potholes one comes across, or there are still corners where work is going on that disrupts the flow of traffic. There’s been much said on this, but there’s little discussed about the issues that pedestrians face while walking around the city.
It is true that there are zebra crossings painted on various streets and that these were required, but then how many of the motorists slow down and give preference to the pedestrians crossing the roads at these?
How many times are there vehicles parked on the zebra crossings that block the way of the pedestrians? It can be pretty dangerous for the person walking, but then nobody seems to bother.
Perhaps the Smart City authorities will excuse themselves, saying that these are not issues that come under their purview or that they can handle. But then, what about the fact that there are zebra crossings over which a fresh coat of tar has been poured, such that the zebra lines are only visible on half the road? There is one such on 18th June Road near Z Square. Shouldn’t this come under the jurisdiction of the Smart City authorities?
But then, what about the fact that there are zebra crossings over which a fresh coat of tar has been poured, such that the zebra lines are only visible on half the road?
Another issue that pedestrians face is the entry to footpaths that are invariably blocked by two-wheelers that have been parked. Somehow, the issue is not so bad where the parking of four-wheelers is concerned, as there always is a gap between the vehicles that allows one to walk.
But two-wheeler riders leave no space between vehicles, and pedestrians are forced to walk along the road as they are unable to find a space from where to step from the road onto the footpath.
Yet another issue is of uneven footpaths. The Smart City footpaths have been constructed using block pavers. These make sense, as they allow rainwater to flow into the ground, but the job has been so shabbily undertaken that no footpath is levelled, and many of the pavers are loose.
In some places, there are paving blocks that jut out just a little, but enough to make the person stumble. I’ve seen it happen quite often to people. This is made worse in the monsoon, as stepping on the loose pavers leads to water from under them splashing onto the feet and dirtying the clothes of the person.
The Smart City footpaths have been constructed using block pavers. These make sense, as they allow rainwater to flow into the ground, but the job has been so shabbily undertaken that no footpath is levelled, and many of the pavers are loose
When all these issues are added up, one has to wonder what’s the point of having footpaths if they are impractical for walking? Just what planning went into creating these footpaths that are just not conducive to walking and pose a threat, especially to the senior citizens of Panjim and to all those who come to the city?
These are issues that are affecting the people of Panjim, yet what seems to draw the attention of the media and the authorities is the stray plants of ganja that are found growing in the gutters of Panjim—the very ones that have been built by the Smart City authorities.
Rightly, ganja plants should find no place on the streets of Panjim, and this needs to be tackled. But so too should the Smart City make it easier for people to walk along the streets of Panjim.
These are issues that are affecting the people of Panjim, yet what seems to draw the attention of the media and the authorities is the stray plants of ganja that are found growing in the gutters of Panjim
Until recently, one had never heard of ganja growing in Panjim. From where have these seeds been brought and left to grow here? It’s a question that leads one to wonder whether the Smart City planners have unwittingly created a fertile ground for growing these plants.
Of course, that is something that could not have been foreseen, but there are many other planning glitches that could have been avoided—one of these being the pavers that have been poorly laid, are loose, and are a risk to pedestrians, especially senior citizens. Was there no quality check on the work being conducted?
Panjim has definitely not got any smarter since the Smart City project was started. It could actually be going the opposite way. But that doesn’t mean that it should remain that way.
The complete lack of interest that the residents of Panjim show towards projects undertaken in the city is what allows the substandard works. Unless Panjimites wake up, the city will deteriorate further.