Guwahati: Guwahati Smart City Mission, launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, faces delays and insufficiency of management funds, among other bureaucratic reasons.
The flagship project aimed to develop 20 smart cities across the country, with Guwahati being one of them. While some projects are nearing completion, others are still in the initial stage due to issues related to space, land allotment, and other bureaucratic matters.
The Brahmaputra Riverfront Development Project, the largest city beautification project, is only 35% complete, with an expected completion date of 2025. Similarly, the Integrated Traffic Management System has seen progress in only 35% of the targeted 94 junctions, while the Dakshinpatra Satra Ashram Development is only 30% complete.
Despite a budget of over Rs. 200 crores, the procurement of 200 EV buses is only expected to roll out by 2024.
Furthermore, many of the bio-toilets and water ATM machines installed by Guwahati Smart City Limited are in terrible condition, with the end agencies failing to take proper care of them.
To address these issues, GSCL is in discussions to outsource vendors to manage the bio-toilets and water ATM machines. Meanwhile, the city has also witnessed acts of vandalism, with LED boards, smart doors, and benches outside the bio-toilets being cut by hex blades.
As Guwahati Smart City Mission faces challenges in completing its projects, the city's residents hope that the government will allocate more funds and resources to ensure the success of the initiative.
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