Making Panaji a Better Urban Space: Sidharth Kuncalienker

Sidharth Kuncalienker, MLA and Vice Chairman, GSIDC

‘Smart Panaji’ would be a city having public services with the highest level of efficiency at the lowest possible cost, says Sidharth Kuncalienker, MLA and Vice Chairman, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), in an interaction with Manish Arora of Elets News Network (ENN). Kuncalienker also speaks on the necessity and ways to keep the state capital clean

Sidharth Kuncalienker, MLA and Vice Chairman, GSIDC
Sidharth Kuncalienker
MLA and Vice Chairman, GSIDC

What is the first thing that comes to your mind while talking about the Smart City Mission?

The Smart Cities Mission needs to be made more liveable while retaining its basic character and improving the living condition of the citizens. A smart city would be a city providing public services to its citizens with the highest possible level of efficiency at the lowest possible cost in the most convenient manner.

Why Panaji was projected as a potential smart city?

Panaji has lots of amenities as compared to other cities of the State. We have tourist spots here, industrial parks, ports, beaches as well as beautiful living places. Now we need to take all these to the household level, provide clean water, proper sewerage,24X7 electricity supply and pathways for the people to walk safely on. These services should be made available to every citizen in a most hassle-free manner.

“Adoption of good technologies, which can be feasible in terms of good for common man, will play a major role in the Smart City Mission. Replacing high usage lights with more efficient LED lights, bringing technology in parking services, etc., will transform Panaji into a smart city”

elets KE Goa 2016 – Goa – The Land of Opportunity for Smart Cities in the era of Digital India
Sidharth Kulcalienker, Chairman, EDC, Vice Chairman, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, MLA Panaji Constituency

We also need to add smart components like smart metering, LED lights, better transport, better parking facility across the city, etc., to be smart and better.

According to you, how important is technology in terms of smart city projects?

Basically, adoption of good technologies, which can be feasible in terms of good for common man, will play a major role in the Smart City Mission. Replacing high usage lights with more efficient LED lights, bringing technology in parking services, signalling, GPS, navigation and other such use of technology will be a source of smart Panaji. Tourism could also be a major mode of investment under the Smart City Mission in Goa, which has the potential to attract large investors towards this Mission.

The Prime Minister lays huge stress on Swachha Bharat programme. On your part, how do you keep your city clean?

We conduct regular cleaning drives, with the involvement of all the departments. We also generate awareness among people to keep beaches and city clean. Besides, we conduct regular check across beaches and river fronts, so that it is kept clean and looks always attractive to tourists. GSIDC has also made huge contribution to the cause of solid waste management recently, which is an example for others to emulate on how to keep one’s city clean.

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