Smart City Project of The Guwahati Smart City Ltd at A Snail's Pace

Staff Reporter

Guwahati: In the wake of the inclusion of Guwahati in the Smart City Mission by the Centre, the Guwahati Smart City Ltd (GSCL) was constituted by the State Government with a view to making a beginning towards finally realizing a dream smart city. Most unfortunately, the GSCL has so far miserably failed to make even a semblance of take off by having completed any of the minor projects that it has undertaken as spade works in the effort towards realizing the final goal of a smart city.

Significantly, on this count, the GSCL undertook eleven projects but has so far failed to fully implement any of the same. The projects initiated by GSCL are Borsola Beel Development Project at a cost of Rs 2.1 crore; Mora Bharalu Banks Development Project at a cost of Rs 4,88 crore; Overall Development of Bharulu River Project at a cost of Rs 5.58 crore; Overall Development of Brahmaputra Banks Project at a cost of Rs 8.26 crore; Conservation of Deepor Beel Project at a cost of Rs 2. 50 crore; Water ATM , totaling 20 of which about 6 have been completed with water still a distant cry at a cost of Rs 2.09 crore and should have been completed by May last; Bio toilets numbering 20 of which none has completed and should have been completed by May last; beautification of Gandhi Mandap at a cost of Rs 2.9 crore and should have been completed in May last; installation of a flag mast 306 feet high at Gandhi Mandap by May and now by August 15 at a cost of Rs 2,5 crore; street light project at a cost of Rs 49.10 crore and Kiosk – ( like link & YC) at a cost of Rs 17.15 crore. Of the total estimate of Rs 378 crore an amount Rs 189 crore has been released by the Centre on a 50: 50 basis with the State.