The much-hyped Guwahati Smart City project conceptualised in the beginning of 2016 has not moved an inch in the last four years. A project which promised to change the face of Guwahati has been given scant attention by an apathetic government.
Since inception, the company – Guwahati Smart City Limited (GSCL) – created as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), has witnessed work being confined to only boardroom meetings and it has become a victim of red-tapism. In a span of four years it appears as if there is a musical chair competition of sorts going on for the Managing Director’s (MD) chair of the company. Five MDs have been changed so far and this very fact shows the apathy of the state government towards the project otherwise tom-tommed by the central government at one point in time as a great step for the future. Till date, 18 board meetings of the company have taken place without any tangible work on the ground.
You can say nothing has moved since we have taken up this project…frequent changes of MDs coupled with unrealistic DPR of projects which need large sums of money has become the main stumbling block…nothing is implemented on the ground,” a senior official who wished anonymity told G Plus.
Secondly, Assam has even failed to utilise the Centre’s funding of Rs 500 crores per year. This has happened mainly due to the filing of unrealistic Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) which, which by themselves, also require huge state funding.