The authorities are planning to redesign Guwahati city, but the question remains whether it is possible or the idea is just a flash in the pan
In July this year, GPlus reported that the business hub of Guwahati, Fancy Bazar, would be redesigned gradually. A detailed draft master plan for the purpose had already been prepared, and planning for redesigning work on two streets – SS Road and GNB Road – had already started. As the city of Guwahati is undergoing various developmental projects and the authorities are redesigning many parts of the city, there are signals that the government is planning to redesign the entire city of Guwahati.
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As the redesigning move is gaining momentum, there are mixed reactions from the citizens and the authorities. It needs to be mentioned that the Guwahati master plan, with a vision up to 2045, has been prepared but not yet approved, as the extension of the city is not yet decided and new ideas are being explored every day.
A source in Dispur talking to GPlus on condition of anonymity said, “It is evident that there are talks ongoing regarding redesigning Guwahati, but how far it will be possible only time can tell,” adding that mini secretariats are being constructed in many districts and there is even talk of moving the secretariat from Guwahati to Nagaon or Jagiroad but the idea is stalled for now. He explained that Guwahati is congested and it requires decongestion so accordingly many plans are being worked on.
The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has proposed Guwahati city’s makeover with a master plan till 2045. But the master plan is being revised. The plan involves expanding the city's boundaries and introducing a land pooling scheme, signalling significant changes on the horizon. But even after being proposed quite some time ago, the extension of the city is yet to be decided.
In November 2023, the Assam government approved master plans for eight towns in Assam, including Rangapara, Gohpur, Sootea, Jamugurihat, Bokakhat, Lakhipur and Badarpur, but Guwahati’s new master plan was not approved.
In December 2023, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led a meeting to scrutinise the draft of the Guwahati Master Plan 2045. Officials presented the draft to him, providing insights into various aspects such as drainage, water supply, sewerage, and environmental planning. Sarma examined the details and offered suggestions for modifications to ensure that the final master plan aligns with the city's needs and aspirations.
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) said, "The new master plan will accommodate a population of 30 lakh." In terms of population projection and density, Guwahati has seen steady growth over the years, reflecting the city's increasing urbanisation and development. According to data provided by the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), the population projection in 1991 stood at 707,955, which increased to 990,161 by 2001. Fast forward to 2021, and the population projection and density further increased to 1,475,651, indicating a significant uptick in urban residents. Looking ahead, the Guwahati master plan paints a picture of continued growth, with projections indicating that by 2031, the population is expected to reach 2,024,565. By 2041, this figure is estimated to rise to 3,151,450, and by 2045, it is projected to reach 3,863,812.
A senior official of town and country planning talking to GPlus said, “Guwahati is imploding and certainly it has to be decongested or redesigned.” The officer explained that the redesigning will happen gradually but at one go it is not possible. “After the Bharalumukh – North Guwahati bridge starts functioning, major congestion of critical areas like Fancy Bazar will shift to North Guwahati,” said the official adding that similarly all the critical areas will be decongested.
Talking about Fancy Bazar, the official said that the whole idea is to decongest the area and make it free, modern and a developed. “The redesigning of Fancy Bazar is a lengthy process and will happen gradually. GMDA has formulated a draft master plan under local area plan for areas between Paltan Bazar and Bharalumukh and from Bharalumukh to Guwahati Club,” the official said. Similarly all the areas will be redesigned gradually and decongested.
The government is planning to take major markets to North Guwahati besides courts, business establishments and hospitals so that Guwahati could be decongested, said another senior official in Dispur. As North Guwahati is welcoming new infrastructure there are also plans of constructing another airport in there, said the official.
Talking about redesigning Guwahati, the official said that one of the major plans is the emphasis on green spaces and ecological conservation. The senior official outlined various permissible uses in the Green Belt zone, including the establishment of bird sanctuaries, botanical gardens, and children's traffic parks. Additionally, provisions have been made for facilities such as electric substations, farmhouses, and flood control works, all aimed at striking a balance between urban development and environmental preservation. He also said that in the new master plan they will integrate wetlands and forests, with linkages to satellite townships in Jagiroad. Furthermore, the inclusion of blue-green infrastructure aims to enhance resilience to climate change while providing recreational spaces for residents.
As Guwahati charts its course towards the future with the master plan 2045, urban reforms take centre stage, underpinned by government assistance, claimed the official. These reforms, aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and development, encompass a range of initiatives designed to transform the cityscape and enhance the quality of urban living.
The official stressed as the city will be redesigned, it will also be extended. There was a plan for shifting the secretariat to Jagiroad or Nagaon, but as the semiconductor project has arrived in Jagiroad, the secretariat will not be shifted now as for the development of any area an “economic anchor” is required, accordingly semiconductor is the anchor to develop Jagiroad and Nagaon area. There is also satellite city coming up there, said the official.
The official further said that Local Area Plan (LAP) will further help in redesigning Guwahati.
LAP is the sub-scheme under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). The goal of this scheme is to support the preparation of LAPs and Town Planning Scheme (TPS) on a pilot basis in 25 states/ cities and build local capacity for undertaking such tasks. States should be able to replicate this exercise on their own in several of their towns and cities to meet the challenges of planned urban development.
Accordingly, Guwahati was selected for the task and the GMDA official explained that usually the most congested areas in a city or a town are selected because it is the central business area. “Bharalu point till Uzan Bazaar, the entire area is choked with traffic. The buildings are too close to each other. There is so much congestion, and it requires redevelopment,” said the official adding that accordingly the area was selected for LAP.
The total area of the LAP identified portion from Bharalumukh to Uzan Bazar is 300 hectares which is around 2700 bighas, said the official adding that the entire area is the business hub of the city.
The official mentioned that due to haphazard construction in the past, the locality has become highly congested. Since it is a central business district, development projects, particularly LAP projects, are typically undertaken in densely populated areas. This area of the city will be redesigned first and gradually other parts of the city.
Ring Road is a major plan which will help redesign Guwahati, said the official.
Social activist and Padmashree awardee Ajoy Kumar Dutta talking to GPlus said, “I keep hearing about redesigning Guwahati and it will be a drastic idea,” adding that if there can be New Delhi, New Mumbai why can’t there be New Guwahati. He said that even the idea to take Fancy Bazar wholesale market to North Guwahati is bad because it is a historial place which is known as Panchatirtha. Moreover, he said that even North Guwahati is not planned. Like Guwahati there is no proper drainage system, sewerage system etc. Guwahati cannot be redesigned because of the flyovers and unplanned structures.
No doubt Guwahati is congested but whether redesigning the city is possible or not only the coming days will explain.
