Syllabus: GS– III & V: Infrastructure

Why in the news?

With rapid urban growth and renewed investment under the Smart Cities framework, Guwahati is once again in focus. Allocation of ₹135 crore under CITIIS 2.0 for waste management and ongoing infrastructure expansion have revived discussions on whether Guwahati is moving towards true smart urban governance.

• Guwahati, the gateway to Northeast India, has expanded rapidly—from 9 lakh residents in 2001 to nearly 14 lakh in 2025. 
• This demographic surge has brought opportunities, yet also magnified civic challenges. 
• Despite being selected under the Smart Cities Mission (2016), Guwahati continues to face fundamental urban distress: 
  • Unmanaged waste, chronic flooding, inadequate water supply, and worsening traffic congestion.

Waste Management – Urgent Reforms Needed

The city produces 550–600 metric tonnes of solid waste daily, of which only a minor share is scientifically processed. Nearly 78% of this waste is biodegradable, but lack of segregation results in dumping, especially near ecologically sensitive areas like Deepor Beel (Ramsar Site).

A smarter model must include:

• Segregation into combustible waste, recyclable waste, and sanitary waste
• Integration of informal waste workers safely into processing centres
• Adoption of waste-to-energy solutions, leveraging high-calorific plastic waste
• Decentralised composting to reduce landfill pressure

Pilot wards where technology-based collection is used have shown 40% higher collection efficiency, demonstrating the potential of digitisation.

Waterlogging – An Urban Disaster Cycle

Just 45.5 mm of rainfall in April 2025 resulted in citywide flooding. Key reasons are well known:

• Obsolete single-line drainage systems
• Encroachment and hill cutting causing siltation
• Plastic choking the drainage network
• Minimal stormwater pumping infrastructure

A long-term plan must include:

• Underground storm drains with modern gradients
• Pumping stations modeled on Bangkok and Amsterdam
• Strict enforcement against dumping and hill cutting
  

Water Supply Paradox – River City, Dry Households

Despite being on the banks of the Brahmaputra, the city faces severe drinking water scarcity:

• Daily requirement: 183 MLD
• Current supply: ~73 MLD
• Deficit: ~110 MLD

Consequences include:

• Over-dependence on groundwater
• Declining water table
• Fluoride and arsenic contamination risks

The solution lies in:

• Pipeline modernisation
• Artificial recharge systems
• Quality monitoring at ward level
• Solar-powered treatment systems
  

Traffic Congestion – Time Lost, Economy Hurt

Average traffic speed has dropped to nearly 20 km/hr, especially across GS Road. Frequent failure of smart signals under the ₹78-crore Integrated Traffic Management System has compounded delays.

Priority actions include:

• Dedicated pedestrian and cycling corridors
• Full activation of smart signalling
• Enforcement of strict lane discipline
• Electronic challan-based monitoring

These will reduce fuel waste, travel time, and vehicular emissions contributing to urban heat.

Way Forward 

To realise the Smart City vision, the city needs:

• Sensor-based waste tracking
• Integrated command-and-control traffic monitoring
• GPS-linked tanker supply operations
• Citizen dashboards ensuring transparency

Governance models must shift from reactive management to predictive planning, particularly in flood-prone wards.

Exam Hook – Mains Question

“Urbanisation often amplifies basic civic deficiencies rather than resolving them. Evaluate this statement with reference to Guwahati, highlighting major governance priorities.”

One-Line Wrap

Building a smarter Guwahati requires technology-enabled systems, stricter enforcement, environmental safeguards, and community-driven urban stewardship.

SOURCE