Guwahati's Ambitious Development Plans for 2026 Unveiled
Guwahati's Progress and Future Plans
Guwahati, Dec 31: On Wednesday, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) shared a comprehensive report detailing its achievements in 2025 while outlining an ambitious vision for the city's future development.
During a press briefing at the GMC headquarters in Uzanbazar, Mayor Mrigen Sarania announced that Guwahati has been recognized as the cleanest capital city in the Northeast, a testament to ongoing efforts in waste management, sanitation, and urban infrastructure.
He highlighted a significant achievement, noting that 2025 was the year Guwahati successfully implemented large-scale structured waste management.
“At the Boragaon dumpsite, we managed approximately 4.08 lakh tonnes of waste scientifically. Previously, around 12 lakh tonnes of waste had formed two to three large garbage hills, which we have now completely cleared,” he stated.
The city generates about 700 tonnes of waste daily, with plans to enhance its processing capabilities further.
Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) have been established at Adabari, and a new facility has been approved for Fancy Bazar, as mentioned by the Mayor.
Another MRF is set to be established at the Adabari transfer station to improve the handling of dry waste like plastic and paper.
“By mid-2026, the facilities at Purabi Dairy and Adabari will be fully operational, allowing Guwahati to manage waste in a more sustainable manner,” the Mayor added.
Improvements in Sanitation and Street Lighting
On the sanitation front, Sarania reported that Guwahati made remarkable strides in national cleanliness rankings.
“In the Swachhta competition, we improved from 402nd to 46th place. We also received recognition as a ‘promising city’ and the ‘cleanest capital city in the Northeast’. In the Swachhta Vayu Sarvekshan, we advanced from 26th in 2024 to 21st in 2025,” he noted, expressing gratitude to the citizens for their support.
Infrastructure development was a primary focus, with the Mayor revealing that the civic body operated on a budget of Rs 1,800 crore in 2025.
“Over Rs 8 crore was allocated for beautifying footpaths near the new DC office area in Rupnagar, while projects worth Rs 15 crore each are in progress at Ganeshguri and VIP Road. Paltan Bazar has also undergone footpath beautification worth Rs 15 crore,” he explained.
Street lighting saw significant upgrades, with approximately 3,200 new street lights installed throughout the year, covering nearly 80–90 percent of wards.
In total, 34,250 street lights have been installed at a cost of around Rs 80 crore through Guwahati Utility Company Limited. “Enhanced lighting directly contributes to safety and quality of life, which has been a top priority for us,” Sarania remarked.
Water Supply Initiatives
Regarding water supply, the Mayor announced that GMC has provided 6,017 free water connections and 1,056 subsidized connections to date. “We aim to extend free water connections to namghars, temples, and other community institutions. Areas with existing pipelines will receive new connections by 2026,” he stated.
Looking forward, Sarania revealed that starting January 2026, the corporation plans to initiate development projects worth Rs 132 crore within six to eight months.
This will encompass road construction, lighting, and water supply improvements. Each ward councillor will receive Rs 40 lakh for road construction, totaling Rs 26 crore, while Rs 10 lakh per ward has been allocated for street lighting.
Additional funds include Rs 12 crore for toilets in temples, namghars, clubs, and community centers, Rs 12 crore for community halls, and around Rs 2 crore for the development of cremation grounds.
Flood Mitigation and Revenue Collection
Flood mitigation is also a key aspect of the plans. Sarania mentioned that approximately 549–550 drains across Guwahati will be cleaned, with work expected to commence by February–March. There are also plans to regulate five rivers to help manage artificial flooding.
“Residents interested in adopting rainwater harvesting can contact GMC, and assistance will be provided to economically weaker sections. Community centers and individuals who adopt better waste disposal practices will qualify for holding tax rebates,” he added.
On the revenue front, the Mayor reported that GMC has collected over Rs 70 crore in taxes in 2025, achieving its annual target. A special drive for occupancy and regulation certificates generated Rs 4 crore in just one month, prompting the corporation to extend the initiative until January 31.
Additionally, 60 new municipal police personnel have been recruited to enhance collection and enforcement efforts.
In conclusion, Sarania urged residents to actively engage in civic initiatives. “Our achievements in 2025 were made possible through public cooperation. We welcome suggestions from the people of Guwahati to improve even further in the coming year,” he stated.