While GSCL is implementing 16 projects worth ₹814.29 crore, the failure to implement some of the vital projects has left the top honchos with an egg on the face.
Of the vital projects, the failure to implement the ₹215 crore Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) is a ‘big embarrassment’ to the GSCL officials.
The detailed project report (DPR) for the project was prepared by Tata Consulting Engineers and even a request for proposal (RFP) was floated for the project in 2018.
Though many companies were interested in the ICCC project, the project was kept on hold till mid-2020.
ICCC being a vital project, the source said, initially there was an issue about finding a plot of land for constructing the infrastructure.
At the ICCC, there was a requirement for a central monitoring room for around 5,000 CCTV cameras fixed across the city.
The former GSCL managing director M Angamuthu, according to the source, was enthusiastic about the project and accordingly, the RFP was floated as he was confident of finding a plot of land for a building to set up the central control unit.
But as soon as Angamuthu was transferred, the project lost momentum. The project DPR was prepared to keep in mind the lifetime vigilance of the city, and smart traffic management.
In June 2020, the Guwahati Smart City has invited bids for the Integrated Command and Control Centre.
The scope of work was primarily for the selection of a system integrator for the implementation of integrated command and control centre, ITMS and city surveillance system at Guwahati in Kamrup Metro district on a design, supply, implementation and O&M (five years) basis under Smart Cities Mission.
The work would have been completed in a period of 12 months at a cost of ₹215.96 crore.
It needs to be mentioned that the other 19 cities, which were selected along with Guwahati in the first list of Smart Cities in India, gave topmost priority to the ICCC as a project.
Though the GSCL invited bids for the project, it was stalled because of a PIL filed in Gauhati High Court, the matter remained sub judice and the project remained on hold.
Later, the Integrated Command and Control Centre project was dropped by the GSCL.
The other important projects which were dropped by GSCL are the Borsola Beel development, Mora Bharalu development, Bharalu development, Deepor Beel development, the special road from Guwahati to AIIMS at Changsari, bicycle tracks and smart roads.
Sources said most of the vital projects under the Guwahati Smart City Mission either got delayed or dropped because of political and bureaucratic decisions since inception.
Managing directors of GSCL were transferred frequently, said the source, and every time a new bureaucrat is appointed, he came up with a new plan.
Every time a bureaucrat is transferred, the new officer came up with new ideas, and the old projects were dropped.
“Around 6 managing directors (MDs) were transferred till now at the GSCL,” the source said, adding that the present MD is the seventh since 2016.
Managing director (MD) of Guwahati Smart City Ltd (GSCL), Lakshmanan S is hopeful about the ongoing smart city projects, and claimed that all smart city projects are “not dropped.”
Lakshmanan is still positive about the vital Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) project and claimed the plan is not totally dropped and will be completed in a phased manner.
He said the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) is a part of ICCC and gradually the CCTV cameras will be also connected to it for city surveillance.
Lakshmanan said all other functions for which the ICCC usually is popular will be connected to the ITMS.
The MD of GSCL blamed it on issues like land acquisition, and feasible study reports for dropping some of the vital projects under the Guwahati Smart City Mission.
He claimed the ongoing projects are also vital for the development of Guwahati city.
Lakshmanan said the projects are only implemented by the GSCL and are subsequently maintained by other agencies.
“Bio toilets were handed over to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) and they are expected to maintain it,” the MD of GSCL said, adding that even super suckers are to be utilised by the GMC.
Under the ongoing projects the MD claimed that the Brahmaputra riverfront beautification is in full swing and after it is completed the city will have a different look altogether.
Regarding the fund crisis, Lakshmanan said the GSCL will manage funds and new projects will be undertaken to transform Guwahati into a ‘Smart City.’
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Rahul Chanda
Quelle/Source: Guwahati Plus, 11.02.2023
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