Guwahati smart city to overhaul project operations with a new zeal

The Guwahati smart city department has claimed to restore its operations with new enthusiasm after an initial gap. According to the insiders of the Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL), a revamp has been made with fresh projects along with carrying over a few of the old projects. 14 projects are on the pipeline comprising Integrated Traffic Management System, Development of Deepor Beel, Brahmaputra Riverfront Development Projects, Light and Sound Show at Gandhi Mandap, Development of Ashwaklanta Devalaya premises, Development of Museum and Maintenance and Repair of the Gandhi Mandap, Development of Shri Shri Dakhinpat Satra Shanti Ashram, Street Lighting on Spine Roads (5,200 poles with luminaries), Development of Umananda Devalaya premises, Installation of Illumination and Technology (Laser) Based Show at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra, Project Jyoti Phase II (10,000 poles), Procurement of Drain De-silting Super Sucker Machines with Dump Storage (10), Streetscape for Beautification at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra and a ‘Welcome Gate’ near Airport. GSCL officials told the media that the work for the mentioned projects has commenced with the money approved for the matter. Rs 100 crore allocation for the much-touted Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) has also started. The ITMS will be a state-of-the-art infrastructure with speed detectors to advise violations. The suggested idea will try to help traffic police catch hold of traffic rule violators. The projects under the GSCL are classified into three aspects comprising pan-city, area-based development (ABD) and other projects. The ABD covers retrofitting of a contiguous area of 696 acres of connected water bodies of the city, which comprises the Mora Bharalu River, Brahmaputra riverfront development, Borsola Beel, Bharalu River and Deepor Beel wetland. There were about 11 projects under the smart city preparation plan when it began. Observing the progress status, only three projects have been completed yet- installation of 20 bio-toilets, the establishment of 20 Anytime Water Machines across Guwahati and launching the highest National Flag at Gandhi Mandap. The 11 projects also involve Mora Bharalu development, Borsola Beel development, Brahmaputra Riverfront development, Bharalu development, Deepor Beel development and Integrated Command, and Control Centre (ICCC) with smart electricity poles for smart lighting, Smart Public Toilets, Anytime Water Machines, Gandhi Mandap development, highest national flag construction at Gandhi Mandap and construction of special road from Guwahati to AIIMS at Changsari. Many projects are on hold and have not been completed yet. As per the vision document of the Smart City Plan, the diverse topographical characteristics of Guwahati like the water streams, hills of varying altitudes, Brahmaputra River, and internationally acclaimed Ramsar Wetland site of Deepor Beel will be used as an anchor for growth in the city, which will further grow the city’s vision of being the education, economic, health & Information Technology (IT) capital of the northeast region of India. GSCL is confident that they will complete the entire project with revived enthusiasm. Image Source Also read: Only 46% projects under Smart Cities Mission completed in six years