Panaji Smart City’s Advanced Survey Nears Completion, Enhancing Urban Planning for the Future
Panaji, Goa, is making significant strides in urban planning with the near completion of an advanced survey of the city’s infrastructure, aimed at building a climate-resilient and sustainable future. The project, executed under the “Urban-Act” initiative, is a comprehensive mapping exercise covering topography, stormwater drainage, and key utilities across the city.
The survey, which is now 98% complete, is a collaboration between the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ India). This project aims to establish a detailed, scientifically backed database that will guide urban planning decisions with a focus on long-term sustainability and resilience to climate change. An official working on the project confirmed that only the final ground verification phase remains before the survey’s completion. “Almost 98% of the work is complete. Only the ground verification is in progress, and soon it will be completed,” they stated, indicating that the initiative is on track to provide valuable insights for future urban development in Panaji.
The comprehensive survey covers various critical aspects of the city’s infrastructure, including street utilities, drainage systems, trees along roads, and footpaths. The primary goal of this exercise is to create a real-time, detailed view of these infrastructure elements, providing a robust foundation for urban planners and policymakers. The city’s stormwater drainage network, a key focus of the survey, will be mapped in detail to allow for future improvements based on scientific data. IPSCDL CEO Sanjit Rodrigues emphasised the significance of the data that will be generated through this survey, stating that it would “support the development of predictive models for climate-resilient infrastructure planning.” The survey will also populate a comprehensive city database, which will be instrumental in simulating potential urban scenarios and assessing the impacts of climate change. These simulations will enable decision-makers to better anticipate future challenges and make informed choices to ensure that Panaji’s infrastructure is not only durable but also adaptable to shifting environmental conditions.
Incorporating climate resilience into urban infrastructure is becoming an urgent priority worldwide, and Panaji is no exception. The data generated by this survey will play a critical role in improving the city’s ability to withstand the challenges posed by climate change, such as intense rainfall, flooding, and rising temperatures. By understanding the location of vulnerable infrastructure and areas of concern, urban planners can take proactive measures to fortify the city’s resilience. “We aim to get a comprehensive drainage map for Panaji by the end of this project,” added Rodrigues. “Any further work on drains should be based on the criticality and need as indicated through this scientifically captured and physically validated database.” The benefits of the survey will extend beyond just the drainage system. The advanced mapping techniques will also create a detailed view of trees along the roads, which can help in urban greenery planning, and offer insight into the status of footpaths and other utilities that directly affect daily life in the city.
The completion of this mapping survey marks an important milestone in Panaji’s journey towards becoming a smarter, more sustainable city. This initiative is not only about improving infrastructure but also about creating a living environment that can adapt to future challenges, especially those arising from climate change. By combining advanced mapping technologies with climate-sensitive urban planning, Panaji is setting a strong example of how cities can take proactive steps toward building a more resilient future. The survey, which will eventually form the basis of a comprehensive city database, is just one part of the broader “Urban-Act” project, which aims to revolutionise urban development in Panaji with forward-thinking strategies that prioritise sustainability and climate resilience. As this initiative nears completion, the city is preparing to move into the next phase of development, which will include using the gathered data to inform future urban policies and projects that will support a smarter, more resilient city for generations to come.
