Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the progress of several urban development projects in Guwahati and directed departments to give priority to flood mitigation, sanitation and access to clean drinking water in the city and other urban areas of Assam.The review meeting focused on the ongoing works and future plans of the Housing and Urban Affairs Department, including projects being carried out by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority, Guwahati Jal Board and the AMRUT mission. During the meeting, the Chief Minister said urban development should remain citizen-centric and asked officials to focus on improving the daily lives of residents through better civic infrastructure and services. According to officials, the discussions mainly centred on key urban challenges faced by Guwahati, especially flash floods during the monsoon season, sanitation management and the need for reliable drinking water supply across the city.
Sarma directed the concerned agencies to speed up major infrastructure projects and ensure timely implementation of works aimed at transforming Guwahati into one of the country’s leading metropolitan cities. He stressed that long-term planning would be necessary to deal with recurring urban flooding and rapid population growth in and around the city.The meeting also reviewed plans related to the development of satellite townships in the greater Guwahati region. Officials discussed measures to reduce pressure on the main city area through planned urban expansion and improved infrastructure connectivity. Apart from Guwahati, the Chief Minister also reviewed sanitation-related projects in other towns and cities of Assam. He instructed officials to strengthen waste management systems and improve sanitation infrastructure in urban local bodies across the state.
Emphasising coordination among different agencies, Sarma said departments must work together for faster and more effective execution of projects. He also called for the involvement of skilled professionals and technical experts from the private sector to improve planning and implementation. The Chief Minister further asked officials to adopt an outcome-based approach while executing urban development schemes. He said the main goal of the government should be to improve the “Ease of Living” for people living in urban Assam through better roads, drainage systems, water supply and public facilities.