Ambitious Projects Set To Take Off For High Quality Life In Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Guwahati considered as the gateway to North East, is turning smart slowly but steadily.

The Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) is ready to implement several ambitious projects that will ensure high quality life for city residents. Few projects are already under implementation stage.

“A city can be defined as ‘Smart’ when investments in human and social capital and traditional (transport) and modern (ICT) communication infrastructure fuel sustainable economic development and a high quality life, with wise management of natural resources, through participatory action & engagement. We are trying to do the same to make Guwahati smart in the real sense of the term,” Moloy Bora, Managing Director of GSCL told The Sentinel.

Bora said the GSCL has pulled out all the stops to successfully execute the much-awaited Brahmaputra riverfront beautification project in the city. He said once the Central Water Commission gives its consensus on the project the GSCL will float tenders to select a reputed organization to award the contract. In the first phase the Brahmaputra riverfront beautification project will be implemented in the stretch between Raj Bhawan and Kachari Bazar. The stretch between Kachari Bazar to Chakreshwar temple will be developed and beautified in the second phase. The project will include 16.5 kms long riverfront stretch.

“Technology is enabling us live a smarter life. We now prefer to live in a city where almost everything is automated. A city should be so well connected that things happen seamlessly. Under Smart City Initiative, we are trying to take steps towards creating happier and smarter communities living within. We will execute few Pan City projects smart solutions to mitigate traffic snarls, parking woes and waste hazards. Under one such Pan City project we are installing 5000 CCTVs at various strategic locations. All such CCTVs will be monitored from a command & control office currently being set up at Panjabari. This project will help in coordinating various problems to find smart solutions to various problems including security risk faced by Guwahatians,” Bora said.

Claiming successful installation of water ATMs and smart bio-toilets at various places in the city, Bora said there are demands to install more such facilities at different places. He said the GSCL has many other plans on the pipeline and these are under various pre-execution stages. The GSCL has received the first installment of Rs 189 crores as the Centre’s share. An equal amount of matching share has also been received from the Assam Government.

Asserting that funds will not be a hurdle in implementing smart city projects, Bora said his company has explored other sources of funding. He said HUDCO and NABARD have agreed in principle to provide loans at ‘concessional’ rate of interest to implement various schemes. “The Centre has no issue in getting loans from other agencies to implement smart city project,” he said.

Bora said within three years from its creation the GSCL has been successful in setting the foundation to convert Guwahati into a smart city. “The need of the hour is support, cooperation and coordination from various departments. We hope to get support from various other stakeholders,” he said.

Also Read: Popular Assamese Singer Krittika Karabi allegedly commits suicide in Guwahati

Also Watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAewEtxQvKE