Urban mobility and economic development of Tinsukia, Assam

Abstract

Tinsukia is an important flourishing urban centre in Assam. It is selected among the 100 Smart Cities of India in 2014. As a commercial and trade hub, it has a large Railway junction, an ongoing Plastic Park project and several corporate offices. It has also been dealing in tea, coal, crude oil and petroleum products, plywood, etc., supplied from the hinterlands. Its location is near the major oil and coal fields of Upper Brahmaputra valley and many tourist places are also located in its vicinity. This paper is based on mainly secondary data—maps, documents and other information from offices of Government and non Government organisations. The findings suggest that public–private partnership (PPP) and digitisation in infrastructure, trade and commerce and transportation and storage should be welcomed to initiate the Smart City process in Tinsukia. In order to sustain the future city, ‘green economy’ practices in manufacturing, trade and transportation are vital. Moreover, its location near the Indo-Myanmar international boundary and the opening of the historic Stilwell Road shall be a great impetus to financial sustainability and also to implement the Look East Policy. This paper emphasises on the economic potentiality of Tinsukia which will aid the Smart City process. It also dwells on the challenges and vision of a smart public transport system within the city.