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Definition of smart city not clear: IIT-G founder director

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, March 1 - The definition of a smart city, as proposed by the present Central Government, is neither clear nor are its various parameters. This was the observation made by Dr DN Buragohain, the founder Director of IIT Guwahati and Professor Emeritus.

He was delivering the keynote address at a symposium � �Livable Guwahati � Prelude to Smart City,� organised by the Senior Engineers� Forum of Greater Guwahati at the Panbazar Institution of Engineers here recently, synchronising with its 12th foundation day.

Dr Buragohain further referred to the apathy of the people of Guwahati towards the problems linked with the basic amenities like need-based water and power supply. Navi Mumbai was developed in a planned manner in phases. But here, New Guwahati has been left to a lamentable fate. Barring the construction of some buildings, there is virtually no trace of development in this part of Guwahati, he added.

Referring to the haphazard traffic management, he said that without people�s cooperation, consciousness and awareness, traffic problems cannot be eased.

Dr Buragohain was critical about the construction of such multi-storey buildings, which cannot be accessed by fire brigades in the hours of need.

He also underlined the need to develop the enviable Guwahati riverfront in such a way that its majestic view remains exposed in totality for the benefit of the people.

It�s worth mentioning that the Senior Engineers' Forum has been pleading for effective schemes to ensure adequate supply of drinking water, electricity, installation of proper drainage and sewage systems, transportation system, introduction of pollution control measures, road safety measures, an effective law and order machinery to check criminal activities, setting up of adequate number of parks, open space and places of recreation, a soothing green cover, earthquake-resistant structures, water harvesting practices, restoration and development of the city water bodies and a spruced up river front, improved infrastructure for educational and healthcare facilities for the people of Guwahati, among others.

In his inaugural address, Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) chairman Dhiren Barua spoke on the initiatives taken by the GMDA to solve the city�s water-logging problem. Construction of housing projects for the poor people is also on the GMDA agenda, he said.

DSP Traffic PJ Goswami, who was deputed by the Director General of Police (DGP) to address the symposium, dwelt in details on the problems relating to city traffic. He said that some thoroughfares of the city, which receive traffic from several directions, have constricted width at certain points leading to congestion.

Out of the 32 city routes, buses ply on eight routes. There is a need for serious discussions among the road engineers and Transport Department officials for the purpose of finding out a viable solution to the traffic problems of the city. Moreover, there is a need to review the vehicle registration system.

Dr F Barbhuyan, Assistant Professor of IIIT Guwahati and Dr Binode Goswami cited the example of demand-based signal system for traffic management without causing problem to the commuters and the vehicular traffic.

Former Secretary, Government of Assam, AC Das spoke on generation of solar and thermal energy to meet the growing power demand.

The Forum felicitated 11 octogenarian engineers for their contributions to the society. The felicitation programme was chaired by Engineer Hareswar Talukdar. Engineer DN Barua (94), the eldest of the Forum members, welcomed the guests and the audience of the function. Engineer RM Das offered the vote of thanks at the function which was presided over by Engineer KG Deb Krori, president of the Forum.

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