Guwahati, Nov 22: The advisory committee of the directorate of town and country planning gave its approval to the first-ever urban planning scheme in Assam, focusing on Tinsukia town, along with a green signal to master plans for eight additional towns.
The crucial urban planning initiatives were taken during a meeting of the advisory committee chaired by Assam housing and urban affairs minister Ashok Singhal.
The towns benefitting from the master plans include Rangapara, Gohpur, Sootea, Jamugurihat, Bokakhat, Lakhipur and Badarpur, and a revised master plan for Dibrugarh city.
The comprehensive discussions involved key stakeholders, including MLAs Kamalakshya Dey Purkayastha, Zakir Hussain Laskar, and AMTRON vice-chairman Ritubaran Sharma, alongside officials from the directorate of town and country planning and related departments.
A notable highlight of the meeting was the approval of the inaugural town planning scheme developed by the Tinsukia Development Authority, covering an extensive 32.98 hectares.
The scheme’s presentation by the Deputy Director of Town and Country Planning, Dibrugarh, and the Town Planning Officer of Tinsukia Development Authority showcased detailed planning and garnered satisfaction from the Advisory Council.
The Assam government’s recent amendment to the Assam Town and Country Planning Act in 2022, incorporating modern urban planning concepts, was acknowledged during the meeting.
Minister Singhal emphasised the need for more urban planning schemes to be implemented across cities through the State Directorate of Town and Country Planning. The objective is to ensure planned and sustainable urban development, fostering a participatory approach among stakeholders and curbing unplanned urban expansion.
In a parallel development, the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) issued development rights certificates to eight landowners, covering one million square feet of land.
This issuance aligns with the Transferable Development Rights (TDR) policy of the Government of Assam, encouraging voluntary land contributions for urban infrastructure development.
Singhal expressed optimism that the implementation of the TDR policy would play a pivotal role in the construction and development of essential urban infrastructure such as roads, parks, and sewerage, ultimately contributing to the growth of a prosperous city.