Guwahati: The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) on Wednesday announced a series of key reforms to ease public grievances related to construction approvals and streamline urban development processes. As part of the initiative, GMC will operate a special approval camp till December 31 to fast-track pending building permissions, occupancy certificates, and regulatory cases.
Mayor Mrigen Sarania said many residents remain confused about approval procedures, especially the belief that a GMDA planning permit equals final approval. “The planning permit is not the final go-ahead. GMDA collects documents and forwards them to GMC. We verify the documents and issue the actual building permission,” he clarified.
Sarania acknowledged delays in document scrutiny as a major concern. To address this, GMC engineers will verify all pending files and send them directly to the Commissioner for approval. Despite a slowdown in construction, GMC aims to maintain stable revenue. Against a target of Rs 16 crore this financial year, the municipal body has collected Rs 2.5–3 crore so far. The Mayor stressed that the focus will remain on compliance, not hurried approvals, urging citizens to follow sanctioned building plans.
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He also highlighted the need for building owners to apply for occupancy certificates, which are essential for holding tax assessments and legal property transactions. “Without occupancy, a building cannot be legally sold,” he said. GMC will additionally identify properties that have not taken occupancy status. Reiterating planning norms, Sarania said GMC will issue construction permissions only on miyadi (permanent) land, and no approvals will be granted for non-arable or hilly areas.
On the public health front, GMC has intensified measures to address a rise in mosquito complaints post-monsoon. The corporation currently operates eight fogging machines and plans to increase the fleet to 40. It has also procured 120 spray machines, with two allotted to each ward for enhanced larvae-control efforts.
With a combined focus on clearing bureaucratic backlogs and improving public health response, GMC aims to strengthen service delivery and enforce better urban development compliance across Guwahati.
