Guwahati: The Government of Assam is undertaking measures to transform Guwahati into the Gateway of South-East Asia, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Friday, during the inaugural address for the North East States Conclave on Urban Planning here.
The conclave is organized by the Government of Assam’s Department of Housing & Urban Affairs in collaboration with the High-Level Committee of the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs at the premises of Assam Administrative Staff College in Guwahati.
In his address, Sarma said the current Government of Assam attaches great emphasis on the process of urbanization across the State with a special focus on Guwahati, North-East India’s largest city.
He exuded confidence that once these initiatives become operational, Guwahati shall be crossing new milestones in many directions.
He referred to the Government of Assam’s tie-up with Singaporean consultancy firm Surbana Jurong for the development of Guwahati, stressing the need for proper urban planning in the current era when every urban Centre is witnessing a trend of population explosion.
He stressed the need to depart from the often-practised “one size fits all” philosophy while formulating policies for the nation, as what is workable in one region may not provide fruitful results in another.
Assam Housing & Urban Affairs Minister Ashok Singhal, Chairman of the High-Level Committee of the Union Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs Keshav Verma, Urban Planning Expert Professor PSN Rao, Commissioner & Secretary of DoHUA Kavita Padmanabhan attended the meeting.
