Lack of coordination delays in Guwahati’s Beautification Project

GUWAHATI: The Guwahati Development Department Authority (GMDA) had undertaken a massive project towards the beautification of the capital city of Assam, but the lack of coordination between different departments of the state government has caused delays in the execution of the same.

One of the key needs of traffic management in the city is the traffic lights system of the ambitious integrated traffic management system remains dysfunctional in several parts of the city. While traffic handling is a duty of the police department, the over-seeing of the proper functioning of these traffic lights is a duty that has been passed around between GMDA and GMC.

In terms of garbage collection in the city, the road connecting Jayanagar to the National Highway has a point where garbage is continuously dumped but rarely cleared. The non-removal of garbage from this part of the city within time by the GMC has slowly turned this point into a garbage dumping site for the people nearby.

The Public Works Department (PWD) had requested that GMC relocate a dustbin located in Ulubari as it was hampering the construction of the drainage infrastructure at that location. But GMC took no notice of the same, causing delays in the construction and repair work. Officials with the PWD added that this is not the first time that the GMC’s inaction has caused delays for other departments.

Similarly, while laying the necessary network of pipes for drinking water, the Jal Board takes care of laying the pipes while the PWD is responsible for bringing the road back to proper conditions. But as both departments continue to pass the buck around, the people of Guwahati City continue to suffer from the problems of disgusting road conditions in the city.

The Brahmaputra riverfront development project under the Guwahati Smart City was expected to open to the public in March. This massive project, created with a budget of Rs 370 crore, was expected to house a host of tourism as well as general resources, including parks, sitting areas, jogging and cycling zones, vending machines, and stages for live shows. But the project has yet to be completed.

Officials with the Guwahati Smart City project also mentioned the lack of coordination as the main reason for the delay in these projects across the city, and they lacked any knowledge regarding the date of completion. It was also mentioned that a project coordination committee under the DC Kamrup Metropolitan should look after the status of the project, but no details regarding the exact reasons for the delays are available.

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