Traders’ protests cast shadow on Smart City projects

Puducherry Smart City projects face uncertain future due to protests by traders. Major projects like Goubert Market, bus stand and mini stadium at Anna Thidal have been affected. No alternative arrangements for traders, and Centre's deadline of June 2024 looms. PSCDL determined to complete projects by March 2024 to secure remaining funds.

Even as the authorities of the Puducherry Smart City Development Limited (PSCDL) are racing against time to stick to the revised schedule of the Centre to implement the projects under the Smart Cities Mission by June 2024, many of the projects face an uncertain future because of the protests by traders. 

The stiff opposition from traders has cast a shadow on major projects like the reconstruction of the Goubert Market at ₹36 crore and the development of the bus stand at ₹15.75 crore. 

The construction of a mini stadium at Anna Thidal at ₹12.19 crore has also been entangled in a controversy. Though a major portion of the construction of the stadium has been completed, a row has erupted with a few politicians allegedly intervening by recommending names to be added to the list of beneficiaries for allotment of shops in the stadium complex. 

The situation remains a bugbear for the territorial administration and the question whether all the three projects will meet the deadline set by the Centre has arisen now. 

According to an official, “PSCDL had awarded the work on the development of the bus stand to NBCC (India) Limited, and it has finalised the contractor. When the contractor visited the bus stand to begin the preliminary work last week, he had to stop the work owing to the protests by traders and autorickshaw drivers who are against demolition of the shops and the auto stand in front of the bus stand.” 

“The development of the bus stand with modern amenities has been a long-pending demand and the project will be beneficial to the residents. But traders are against the demolition of shops,” he said. 

Traders in the bus stand say the authorities have made no alternative arrangements for them. They also want an assurance from the government on the reallocation of shops in the new building.