SMART CITY PANJIM: ₹1,100-CRORE PROJECT, BUT RTI REVEALS ACCOUNTABILITY GAP; CONGRESS DEMANDS WHITE PAPER AND JUDICIAL INQUIRY

Amarnath Panjikar and GPCC RTI Department Chairman Uday Chari expose missing records, incomplete audits, questionable expenditure and lack of transparency in Smart City Mission

Goa Khabar: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee leaders Amarnath Panjikar and GPCC RTI Department Chairman Uday Chari, addressing a press conference, raised serious concerns over the implementation, expenditure and accountability of the Smart City Mission in Panjim, alleging that the project has become a symbol of administrative failure, financial opacity and public inconvenience.

The Smart City project, reportedly involving an outlay of approximately ₹1,100 crore, was intended to transform Panjim into a modern city with smart roads, efficient electricity, improved sewage systems, reliable water supply and advanced urban infrastructure. However, information received through the Right to Information (RTI) mechanism raises troubling questions about the utilisation of public funds, the availability of financial records and the actual status of the works undertaken.

“A project worth ₹1,100 crore cannot be allowed to operate under a cloud of missing records, incomplete audits and unanswered questions. Goans deserve to know where their money has gone and what they have received in return,” the Congress leaders asserted.

RTI REPLY RAISES SERIOUS QUESTIONS OVER PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

According to the information received through RTI, accounts and expenditure details covering only approximately ₹500 crore have been provided, without specific details of the corresponding works. This leaves a substantial gap between the reported overall project outlay and the expenditure information made available.

The Congress leaders pointed out that the Smart City Mission commenced in 2015, yet audit reports are reportedly available only for three years, up to 2019. The absence of audit records for the subsequent seven years, as indicated by the RTI response, raises serious concerns about financial oversight and accountability.

They demanded to know why complete financial statements, supporting documents and audit reports have not been made available for public scrutiny.

₹4.34 CRORE ON CONSULTANCY: WHERE IS THE ACCOUNTABILITY?

The RTI information reportedly shows expenditure of ₹4,34,58,427 on consultancy services, with some amount still payable to the consultant agency.

The Congress leaders questioned the justification for such substantial consultancy expenditure when the project continues to face questions over transparency, incomplete documentation and the delivery of promised civic infrastructure.

“Consultancy cannot become an excuse for spending crores of rupees without demonstrating clear outcomes. The government must disclose the terms of engagement, deliverables, payments made, outstanding dues and the measurable benefits received by the people of Panjim,” they demanded.

₹3 CRORE ON SMART CCTV, BUT LOCATIONS NOT DISCLOSED

The Congress leaders further pointed out that approximately ₹3 crore has reportedly been spent on smart CCTV systems, yet the RTI reply has failed to provide the locations of the cameras.

They demanded a complete inventory of the CCTV infrastructure, including installation locations, operational status and expenditure details, subject to legitimate security considerations.

“If public money has been spent on surveillance infrastructure, the authorities must at least establish what was installed, where it was installed and whether it is functioning. The inability to provide basic project information is unacceptable,” they said.

₹41 CRORE ON ST. INEZ NALLAH, BUT CLEANLINESS REMAINS A QUESTION

The reported expenditure of ₹41 crore on the St. Inez Nallah has also come under scrutiny. Despite the substantial amount involved, concerns remain over the condition and cleanliness of the nallah.

The Congress leaders demanded a detailed account of the works undertaken, the contractors involved, the expenditure incurred and the present condition of the drainage system.

They also alleged that duplication of works appears in the expenditure records and called for an independent technical and financial examination to determine whether overlapping works have been billed or accounted for more than once.

₹123 CRORE FOR SMART ROADS, ELECTRICITY AND SEWAGE: WHERE ARE THE RESULTS?

According to the information cited by Congress, approximately ₹123 crore has been shown as spent on smart roads, smart electricity and smart sewage under the Smart City Mission.

However, the party questioned whether the outcomes promised under these categories are visible on the ground. Residents continue to raise concerns over the condition of roads, civic infrastructure, sewage management and the reliability of essential services.

The leaders said that expenditure figures alone cannot establish project success. The government must demonstrate the physical completion, quality, functionality and public benefit of every major work.

₹8 CRORE ON SMART PIPELINES AND ₹8 CRORE ON SMART METERS, BUT NO ASSURANCE OF 24/7 WATER SUPPLY

The Congress leaders also questioned the reported expenditure of ₹8 crore on smart pipelines and another ₹8 crore on smart meters.

Despite these investments, residents of Panjim are not assured of uninterrupted, 24-hour water supply. The party asked the authorities to explain how these works have improved water availability, monitoring and distribution.

“Smart City cannot merely mean smart names attached to expenditure heads. If crores have been spent on smart pipelines and meters, why are citizens still unable to count on round-the-clock water supply? The government must publish the actual performance results,” the leaders demanded.

₹23.52 LAKH UNDER AMRUT MISSION: DETAILS MUST BE DISCLOSED

The Congress leaders further raised questions over the reported expenditure of ₹23.52 lakh under the AMRUT Mission, stating that the available RTI response makes it difficult to establish the precise details and outcomes of the project.

They demanded that the authorities disclose the sanctioned work, implementing agency, expenditure statement, completion status and supporting records.

MISSING FILES AND UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION CANNOT BE ACCEPTED AS AN ANSWER

The Congress leaders expressed serious concern that the RTI response reportedly identifies several items of information as unavailable and indicates that certain files or details cannot be furnished.

They questioned how public authorities can ensure accountability for a major urban development project when basic records concerning expenditure, locations, works and audits are reportedly unavailable.

The leaders stressed that the Right to Information Act is a vital instrument for transparency and that citizens cannot be denied meaningful answers about the utilisation of public funds.

“When records are missing, audits are incomplete and expenditure cannot be clearly linked to completed works, the government owes the public an explanation. Missing information must trigger accountability, not become a shield against scrutiny,” they said.

WHY HAS THE PROJECT NOT BEEN HANDED OVER TO CCP?

The Congress leaders also demanded clarity on the present administrative status of the Smart City project and questioned why the completed works and relevant responsibilities have not been fully handed over to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP), or why the CCP has not assumed charge of the project to the extent expected.

They asked the government to disclose the current status of the project, the works completed and pending, the arrangements for maintenance, the assets created, outstanding liabilities and the reasons for any delay in handing over responsibilities to the civic body.

They emphasised that Panjim’s residents must not be left dealing with unfinished works, unclear responsibility and uncertainty over who is accountable for maintaining the infrastructure.

CONGRESS DEMANDS WHITE PAPER AND JUDICIAL INQUIRY

In view of the serious questions arising from the RTI information, the GPCC leaders placed the following demands before the Goa government:

1. White Paper on Smart City Panjim: Publish a comprehensive White Paper detailing the original project outlay, revised costs, funds received, expenditure incurred, work-wise payments, contractors, consultancy fees, outstanding liabilities and the current financial position.

2. Judicial Inquiry: Order an independent judicial inquiry into the planning, execution, expenditure, audit gaps and alleged duplication of works under the Smart City Mission.

3. Complete Audit Reports: Make available all audit reports and financial statements from the commencement of the project in 2015 to the present, including the years for which records are reportedly unavailable.

4. Work-Wise Expenditure Disclosure: Publish a comprehensive list of every project, with its sanctioned amount, tender details, executing agency, expenditure, completion certificate and present operational status.

5. Verification of CCTV Infrastructure: Disclose the inventory, installation details and functional status of the smart CCTV systems for which public funds have reportedly been spent.

6. Technical Inspection of Major Works: Conduct an independent technical assessment of the St. Inez Nallah works, smart roads, sewage infrastructure, pipelines, electricity systems and other major projects to verify the quality and actual delivery of the promised facilities.

7. Clarification on Missing Records: Explain why information and files sought under RTI are reportedly unavailable and fix responsibility wherever negligence, non-compliance or other irregularities are established.

8. CCP Handover and Project Status: Clarify the current status of the project, the timeline for handing over completed assets to the CCP, the responsibility for maintenance and the plan for completing all pending works.

“SMART CITY MISSION OR TOTAL COMMISSION?”

The Congress leaders said that the Smart City Mission was projected as a landmark initiative to modernise Panjim, but the questions raised by the RTI response demand urgent and credible answers.

They alleged that the project risks becoming another example of public money being spent without adequate transparency or accountability and reiterated their demand for a thorough, independent investigation.

“Goans were promised a Smart City, not a maze of missing files, incomplete audits and unanswered questions. The government must stop hiding behind expenditure figures and tell the people what has actually been delivered. If the project is clean, let the records speak. If irregularities have occurred, those responsible must be held accountable,” they said.

The Congress leaders concluded by demanding that the government immediately disclose the complete status of the Smart City Mission in Panjim, including its financial position, physical progress, pending works and handover arrangements.

The people of Panjim have a right to know how every rupee of public money has been spent. Congress will continue to demand transparency, accountability and justice until the government provides satisfactory answers.