Newly-appointed Chairman of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) Ashok Singhal is set to take charge as Chairman of the GMDA today. Singhal is among the new appointments approved by the Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Singhal has stressed the need for preparing a comprehensive plan to set up a satellite township to ease the population pressure on Guwahati. He also assured that he would do his best to expedite the process of implementation of the ongoing schemes of the GMDA.

The newly-appointed GMDA Chairman expressed the view that a comprehensive plan for expansion of Guwahati should be chalked out. He pointed out that a satellite township should have the basic amenities like good transportation system, educational institutions, hospitals, etc. If the basic amenities are not provided, people would not be keen on shifting to a satellite town, he pointed out.

Singhal said that after taking charge of GMDA, he would explore the feasibility of preparing a master plan for expansion of Guwahati. "We will also have to hold talks with the government in this regard as the finances for such a plan would have to be provided by the government," he added.

Singhal assured that he would lay stress on expediting the process of implementation of the ongoing schemes by the GMDA including the Japan International Cooperation Agency-sponsored water supply scheme to ensure that the projects are completed at the earliest.