GUWAHATI: In a bid to
accommodate the rapidly growing population of Guwahati, the Guwahati
metropolitan development authority (GMDA) has proposed review and
revision of its comprehensive master plan (CMP), 2025, adopted in 2009.
The original masterplan was adopted in July, 2009 and also recommended
its monitoring and review at five-year interval (2011, 2016 and 2021).

The GMDA has selected the Centre for Environment Planning &
Technology (CEPT), Ahmedabad, for the job. “CEPT has submitted the
report to the Assam
government recently. It has proposed expansion of GMDA’s jurisdiction
to around 2000 sq km. Next, CEPT experts will review and revise the CMP,
2025,” the official said. He added that CEPT has completed a similar
exercise for Hyderabad and Patna city.

A top GMDA official said
the authorities have highlighted the need for expanding the
jurisdiction of Guwahati to facilitate and regulate development to
accommodate the city’s growing population.

According to the
2001 census, the population of Guwahati metropolitan area was around 8.9
lakh, but as per the provisional figures of the 2011 census, the
population of the same area went up to 12.6 lakh. Unofficial figures say
it has crossed the 17-lakh mark in Guwahati.

He added that the
master plan will project the physical and social infrastructure needs
for the growing population for the next 20 years and will also lay down a
roadmap for generating resources for meeting these needs.