Panaji, Dec 16 (TOI): Can the proposed spending of 981.11 crore on Panaji alone, which is geographically smaller to the port town of Vasco and the commercial town of Margao, be justified? The state government on Monday granted administrative and financial approval to the Smart City proposal for Panaji. The 981.11 crore project comprises the conservation of heritage structures and implementation of smart transportation.

Not only are Margao and Vasco bigger in sizes but boast a larger population too, in comparison with Panaji. More importantly, both are in the dire need of infrastructure development.

A government official said that though Panaji competed to be chosen in the first 98 cities under the Smart city challenge, the government should have deliberated whether it is prudent to spend close to 1,000 crore alone on Panaji.

He also pointed out that the corporation of the city of Panaji (CCP) could have opted for other schemes of the central government that would be more project-specific rather than the Smart City. The government should attain central funding cautiously as is evident from its track record. In the past, the state has availed of funds from the central government scheme Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) which was not utilized smartly.

A municipal official who has worked both in Vasco, Mapusa and Margao municipal councils, asked why doesn't the government think about other towns before committing huge contributions to Panaji.

"Margao and Vasco need better bus stands. Vasco bus stand is in a pathetic state," he pointed out.

Both towns have remained neglected compared to Panaji, he said it is high time the government stopped pampering the state capital as Vasco's and Margao's requirments for infrastructure can be easily rated above Panaji.

More importantly, the question is whether 1,000 crore needs to be spent on Panaji alone to cover the remaining infrastructural needs of the city?

"There's no doubt, Panaji needs better parking facilities, it needs a permanent solution to its waste management problem but so also do the other two cities," he said.

The state government is committed to contributing its share for projects that will be undertaken under the Smart City project in the event Panaji is selected for the challenge. The big question remains, how will the government raise funds when it is not in the best of financial health?