Latest news with #DamodarShirodkar
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
MMC invites bids for solar CCTV cams at black spots
Margao: In a move towards enhancing surveillance infrastructure, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has issued a notice inviting bids for the supply and installation of solar 4G CCTV cameras. These cameras are set to be installed at identified black spots across the town. This development follows MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar's recent announcement to have CCTV cameras operational at 16 identified spots before the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi. According to the notice inviting bids, the selected vendors will be responsible for the installation and configuration of the necessary equipment, including network video recorders (NVR), hard disk drives (HDD), and routers. Sources in the MMC said that the use of solar-powered 4G technology is expected to ensure uninterrupted surveillance capabilities, even in areas with restricted or no conventional power supply. Interested parties are required to submit their sealed quotations by July 15, with the opening of bids scheduled for the same day at the municipality's office. 'The installation of these CCTV cameras is expected to play a significant role in monitoring vulnerable spots, aiding in crime prevention, and enhancing the overall security framework of the city. The CCTV cameras are expected to serve more as a deterrent against crimes,' said an official of the civic body.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Margao to get CCTV cameras at 16 locations before Chaturthi
Margao: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) is set to revive its CCTV surveillance network with the installation of cameras at 16 strategic locations before Ganesh Chaturthi. With this initiative, MMC aims to make a fresh attempt to tackle traffic congestion and crime in the city. MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar said that a five-member committee constituted under the chief officer has already identified the locations for camera installation. The committee, which met with RTO officials, police, and MMC representatives, has finalised the spots for the initial phase. While the MMC requires 100 cameras to provide CCTV coverage across the entire town, the civic body will begin with 16 cameras as part of the first phase. Ten cameras have already been installed around the Sonsoddo waste treatment plant. This initiative is a second attempt at establishing effective camera surveillance in Margao. The town first introduced CCTV cameras in June 2012 when the South Goa district administration installed a CCTV surveillance system from Holy Spirit Church to MMC square under the MP Local Area Development scheme. The system initially showed promising results, with traffic police successfully tracking down violators and issuing fines to vehicle owners based on CCTV footage. A dedicated cell was formed of traffic personnel to monitor CCTV footage and detect violations. Police said the CCTV surveillance system created a sense of deterrence, thus enabling curtailment of the crime rate. However, the exercise soon fizzled out. The surveillance network of 2012 turned dysfunctional largely due to a lack of maintenance. The absence of regular maintenance obligations from the vendor resulted in the system becoming irreparable, leaving Margao without effective CCTV surveillance for over a decade. 'The crime rate jumped steeply once the CCTV surveillance was out of order,' a senior police officer said. This time, however, Shirodkar said, all necessary safeguards will be built into the agreement to be signed with the vendors to prevent any kind of misadventure. The new initiative also includes plans to introduce pay-parking areas to further address traffic congestion issues plaguing the state's commercial capital.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Margao Municipal Council and GSUDA trip over red tape, delaying parking project
Margao: Nearly two months after the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) invited expressions of interest (EOI) for Margao's hydraulic parking project, uncertainty over coordination with the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) continues to raise doubts about its implementation. MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar said the project 'should happen soon,' with tenders invited after EOIs are finalised. He said work will be completed in 2-3 months by assembling prefabricated components. However, MMC has not fixed clear timelines with GSUDA, and this lack of coordination has raised concerns among stakeholders, given the project's troubled history. The hydraulic system replaced the original Rs 10-crore reinforced cement concrete multi-level parking plan after repeated tender failures. Local businessmen have expressed frustration over the delays. 'We have been hearing about different parking solutions for years now. First, the multilevel parking, now the hydraulic system, but nothing ever materialises,' said a shop owner. Opposition councillors slammed the municipal council for 'announcement politics,' calling it a pattern of grand promises followed by silent abandonment. Margao's parking crisis has persisted for over a decade. In 2011, Congress govt allocated Rs 3 crore as part of a 'golden jubilee package' for infrastructure projects, prioritising the parking facility. Despite a foundation stone ceremony in 2016, the project stalled due to repeated tender failures.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Delays cloud Margao's hydraulic parking project
Margao: Nearly two months after the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) invited expressions of interest (EOI) for Margao's hydraulic parking project, uncertainty over coordination with the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) continues to raise doubts about its implementation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar said the project 'should happen soon,' with tenders invited after EOIs are finalised. He said work will be completed in 2-3 months by assembling prefabricated components. However, MMC has not fixed clear timelines with GSUDA, and this lack of coordination has raised concerns among stakeholders, given the project's troubled history. The hydraulic system replaced the original Rs 10-crore reinforced cement concrete multi-level parking plan after repeated tender failures. Local businessmen have expressed frustration over the delays. 'We have been hearing about different parking solutions for years now. First, the multilevel parking, now the hydraulic system, but nothing ever materialises,' said a shop owner. Opposition councillors slammed MMC for 'announcement politics,' calling it a pattern of grand promises followed by silent abandonment. Margao's parking crisis has persisted for over a decade. In 2011, Congress govt allocated Rs 3 crore as part of a 'golden jubilee package' for infrastructure projects, prioritising the parking facility. Despite a foundation stone ceremony in 2016, the project stalled due to repeated tender failures.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CCTV cameras, pay-parking in Margao soon
Margao: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) will install CCTV cameras at several locations and introduce pay-parking areas to tackle traffic congestion. MMC chairperson Damodar Shirodkar said a committee constituted under the chief officer identified 15-16 locations for the installation of CCTV cameras in congested areas. It met with the RTO, police, and MMC officials to finalise the spots. 'Installation of cameras will be fully funded by the MMC. Also, we are moving forward with pay parking at 4-5 locations,' Shirodkar said. CCTV cameras installed at various places years ago under the MP Local Area Development scheme went beyond repair, primarily due to poor maintenance. The chairperson also said that the proposed hydraulic pay-parking system will materialise soon. The project is being implemented through the Goa State Urban Development Agency, which has already invited expressions of interest. However, the progress of the project is shrouded in secrecy. Opposition councillors, meanwhile, have slammed the MMC's 'announcement politics'. Earlier pay-parking proposals for Margao Square, Fatima Convent, and Isidore Baptista Road never got off the ground, they said.
