Niti Aayog reveals underperformance of Guwahati Smart City
SMART CITIES

Niti Aayog reveals underperformance of Guwahati Smart City

Guwahati was selected as one of the initial 20 smart cities in the country, a key part of the ambitious Smart City programme initiated by the government to enhance living conditions in 100 towns and cities nationwide. However, recent evaluations by Niti Aayog have revealed a disappointing reality – Guwahati is among the least successful smart cities in the country. Out of a total of 185 projects, only nine projects worth a combined Rs 22.56 billion have been completed.

Niti Aayog's analysis highlights that Guwahati's underwhelming performance is not an isolated case. Several other cities in the Northeastern region, including Shillong, Aizawl, and Imphal, have faced challenges in making significant progress in their respective smart city initiatives. Similarly, municipalities like Amaravati, Diu, Greater Warangal, Kavaratti, Port Blair, and Puducherry are also struggling and rank among the lowest-performing urban areas.

The report also points out that 32 smart cities have exceeded their initial project completion targets, with some surpassing them by four times. Despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as political, regional, and local land and labor issues, an impressive Rs 390.85 billion worth of projects were successfully completed nationwide in the past year.

The financial aspect of the Smart Cities Mission also displays positive trends. Funding provided by the Central Government increased from Rs 283.15 billion to Rs 348.87 billion by the end of 2022, showcasing a renewed commitment to accelerating the growth of smart cities.

Regarding Guwahati, the city received a financial grant of Rs 3.96 billion from the Ministry of Urban Development, which remained unused until 2022. The total financial plan for Guwahati's five-year Smart City project was set at Rs 22.56 billion, with expectations that both the Central Government and the state administration would each contribute Rs 5 billion. The remaining funds were anticipated to be generated through various means by urban local bodies, including user charges, beneficiary fees, land monetization, debts, and loans.

Guwahati was selected as one of the initial 20 smart cities in the country, a key part of the ambitious Smart City programme initiated by the government to enhance living conditions in 100 towns and cities nationwide. However, recent evaluations by Niti Aayog have revealed a disappointing reality – Guwahati is among the least successful smart cities in the country. Out of a total of 185 projects, only nine projects worth a combined Rs 22.56 billion have been completed.Niti Aayog's analysis highlights that Guwahati's underwhelming performance is not an isolated case. Several other cities in the Northeastern region, including Shillong, Aizawl, and Imphal, have faced challenges in making significant progress in their respective smart city initiatives. Similarly, municipalities like Amaravati, Diu, Greater Warangal, Kavaratti, Port Blair, and Puducherry are also struggling and rank among the lowest-performing urban areas.The report also points out that 32 smart cities have exceeded their initial project completion targets, with some surpassing them by four times. Despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as political, regional, and local land and labor issues, an impressive Rs 390.85 billion worth of projects were successfully completed nationwide in the past year.The financial aspect of the Smart Cities Mission also displays positive trends. Funding provided by the Central Government increased from Rs 283.15 billion to Rs 348.87 billion by the end of 2022, showcasing a renewed commitment to accelerating the growth of smart cities.Regarding Guwahati, the city received a financial grant of Rs 3.96 billion from the Ministry of Urban Development, which remained unused until 2022. The total financial plan for Guwahati's five-year Smart City project was set at Rs 22.56 billion, with expectations that both the Central Government and the state administration would each contribute Rs 5 billion. The remaining funds were anticipated to be generated through various means by urban local bodies, including user charges, beneficiary fees, land monetization, debts, and loans.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?