STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: A division bench of the Gauhati High Court said that it expected the Guwahati Development Department (GDD) and the Managing Director of Guwahati Smart City Ltd (GSCL) would complete the tender process so that the Smart City Project could be launched at the earliest. The Court also said that "it could be done only if the tender process is finalized without any further delay".
Hearing the PIL (72/2016) recently, the division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice (acting) N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Manish Choudhury said, "…we are of the view that while taking into consideration various issues raised as identified in the order dated September 24, 2020, perhaps, implementation of the Smart City Project would be critical and if properly implemented in time could take care of many of the issues raised in this PIL.
"As regards the Smart City Project status, it has been submitted by Mr. S.P. Das, learned counsel appearing for the Managing Director of Guwahati Smart City Ltd that the tender process had been already initiated and is at the final stage. Bids have been already opened, but because of certain queries sought by the competent authorities of the GDD in this regard, the tender process could not be finalized.
"We hope and trust that, such an important project ought not to be delayed and the GDD and the MD of Guwahati Smart City Ltd and other connected official respondents shall ensure that there is no delay and the project is taken up at the earliest with right earnest.
"There is another pressing issue relating to congestion of the roads due to non-shifting of the Wholesale Market from Guwahati city areas though certain actions seem to have been taken for establishment of the Wholesale Market at Chhaygaon, Sonapur and Changsari.
"There are other issues of violation of traffic norms by the bus operators which also need to be immediately looked into, though it has been stated in the status report that these are being looked into. However, after hearing the petitioner in person and others, it appears that the same has not been done in letter and spirit. We expect the traffic authorities to ensure proper compliance of traffic norms as already mentioned in the pleadings."
The Bench further said that "having considered the affidavit filed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Assam, GDD, we dispense with the personal presence of the Additional Chief Secretary. "… without going into all the details of the steps being taken, we direct all the respondents to file updated position of the steps being taken by the next date."
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