The National Games village at Basistha in Guwahati. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Sept. 21: The region’s tallest building is coming up in Assam’s capital city.

The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) plans to construct a 20-storey residential apartment at the Games Village in a joint venture with Simplex Infrastructures Ltd. The site of the proposed landmark lies within the Games Village, which was used to house players and officials during the 33rd National Games in 2007.

The deadline for the completion of the building is 2013.

A state government official said the construction of the 20-storey building would be a challenging task for the GMDA as the city, which falls in the highly vulnerable seismic zone V, had so far seen highrises of upto 11 storeys.

“Considering the city’s high vulnerability to earthquakes, the GMDA has brought consultants and experts from California for soil testing at the project site to help Simplex Infrastructures Ltd ensure that the building can withstand a major quake,” the official said.

“Despite being in a high earthquake risk zone, California has highrises of upto 100 storeys. The US experts, whom the GMDA is consulting, have the experience and skill in building skyscrapers. The GMDA has asked Simplex Ltd to incorporate the suggestions and construction norms of the Californian experts in its plan to build the 20-storey apartment in the city,” he added.

The proposed highrise will be equipped with all facilities, including hi-tech elevators, to ensure that residents and visitors do not face any inconvenience in reaching the upper floors. There will be adequate arrangements to promptly evacuate the occupants in case of natural disasters like earthquake and fire.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi is expected to lay the foundation stone of the project soon.

The official said the GMDA would also set up a modern township on 30 bighas of land at the Games Village, complete with a shopping mall, a modern club, swimming pool, jogger’s park and a flower garden.

“The project’s estimated cost has been fixed at Rs 200 crore. The GMDA had developed the Games Village keeping in view the needs of the National Games. The 700 flats that were constructed for the Games were later allotted to officials of Assam Police, Sports Authority of India, Sashastra Seema Bal and state and central government officials. Now the GMDA wants to develop and convert the Games Village into a full-fledged township,” the official said.

“The rapid growth of the city has attracted a large number of professionals and their need for accommodation has pushed up the demand for residential property. Guwahati is home to some prominent educational institutions of the country like IIT. Students throng the city, resulting in higher demand for housing spaces. The GMDA has received a very good response for the proposed township and even McDonalds, the world’s largest chain of fast food family restaurants, has booked a space in the shopping complex at the township,” the official said.