Twin Tower project

The Assam Government inviting fresh Request for Proposal for development of the proposed Twin Tower in Guwahati is desperate attempt to attract private developers for the ambitious project. The State government in 2018 signed an agreement with the National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) for development of a 65-storeyed iconic twin tower trade centre but the project failed to take off. The State government also showcased it at the 'Advantage Assam' global investors summit to attract investors to the state. Despite the agreement with the NBCC, the project was in limbo over the issue of funding. The Assam Industrial Development Corporation Limited has floated fresh global tender for developing the Rs. 2000-crore project by involving private developers. The bid document says that the main objective of development of twin tower is to "create a world class infrastructure for tapping the opportunity in real estate sector and put Guwahati on the global map". The Developer shall be entitled to own its share of built-up area on freehold basis and collect revenues from the project in accordance with the terms of the Development Agreement. The selected developer will have to make an upfront amount of Rs 180 crore and all costs and expenses of construction of the project including the costs and expenses of obtaining the approvals, all licenses, permissions, and sanctions, shall be paid for by the developer.

This is expected to end the funding issue but any developer to be attracted to make the huge investment will depend on how far the state and the developer succeed in attracting potential buyers of the built-up spaces and facilities. The Twin Tower, envisaged to be a mixed-use project, is proposed to be built on approximately 10.6 acres of land earmarked in the city. The project will have 30 lakh square feet of built-up area which indicates the magnitude of the skyscraper project. The project will have offices, hotel, shopping mall, conference facilities and car parking. The last date for submission of the bid is January 7 next and the developer shall get maximum of five years including one year of grace period to complete the project. Therefore, if the government is able to attract new developers, the ambitious project will take nearly the entire term of the next government to be installed in Dispur. This brings an element of uncertainty depending on which party or combination gets elected in 2021 Assembly polls. The tender process, however, will keep it alive during the electioneering and help the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to showcase the iconic project as the commitment of the government led by it to make Guwahati the as a business hub of India, ASEAN, and South Asia under the 'Act East' and 'Neighbourhood First' policies. Mere construction of Twin Tower is not going to attract investors. The capital city is grappling with plethora of problems such as traffic congestion, waterlogging, rise in pollution levels, shortage of drinking waters, poor municipal waste management system. The city lacks an efficient and rapid public transit system. Solutions to these multiple problems have remained elusive due to poor utilisation of the Guwahati Smart City Project.

It is unfortunate that Smart City project was started in 2016 and nearly four years have been lost without much progress. The primary objective of a smart city project is to ensure decent living condition to the residents by ensuring clean, sustainable environment and smart solutions to the problems. An ideal city should round the clock efficient water supply system, make optimal use of technology in the design and operation of the infrastructure to meet the future needs of the city apart from current needs. A smart city is to be developed as sustainable for future generations. The global investors will ascertain if the objective of the twin tower matches the aspiration of Guwahati to grow as a sustainable city. Unless they see a commitment of the State government and city authorities expediting the projects that can ensure basic needs of the city for a decent life, they are not going to take interest in coming and buy space in the twin tower for establishment of their business. The new bid document of the twin tower project does not limit the height of the towers subject to clearance by the Airport Authorities of India which will perhaps allow the developer to limit the height in accordance with the demand for space buyers. Apart from development Guwahati as a smart city, the overall economy of the state, industrial development, connectivity of North-eastern states with ASEAN and other neighbouring countries will be major pull factors for potential buyers of twin tower office spaces. With barely four and half months left for the Assembly polls, the public discourse around it will also make it an electoral issue for ruling and opposition parties.