Guwahati: The Assam assembly on Tuesday passed a series of bills aimed at accelerating urban expansion around Guwahati, easing regulatory compliance and improving the state’s investment climate.The House approved the Guwahati Satellite City Development Authority Bill, 2026, empowering the state govt to establish the Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority (GSCDA) to plan, develop and manage notified townships and satellite cities.Housing and urban affairs minister Kaushik Rai said the authority would prepare development plans, identify future urban growth corridors, consolidate land, integrate transport, housing and economic infrastructure, mobilise funds and attract private investment.Rai said rapid urbanisation and population growth had placed immense pressure on Guwahati’s civic infrastructure, healthcare facilities and natural resources, while planning responsibilities remained fragmented across several agencies. The authority would provide a unified institutional framework for planning and developing satellite townships to support sustainable urban growth, he added.The assembly also passed several business reform bills to strengthen Assam’s investment climate and align state regulations with the Centre’s ease-of-doing-business framework.The Assam Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Facilitation of Establishment and Operation) Bill, 2026, replaces the 2020 legislation governing MSMEs. Industries, commerce and public enterprises minister Bimal Borah said the revised law incorporated lessons from the implementation of the existing legislation, digital approval mechanisms and the Business Reform Action Plan to ensure faster, time-bound clearances for enterprises.The Assam Ease of Doing Business (Amendment) Bill, 2026, provides for a single window task force to coordinate and expedite proposals relating to notified industrial areas through a dedicated digital portal.The House also cleared the Assam Shops and Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which reduces compliance requirements and introduces digital governance, self-certification and deemed registration. It also facilitates round-the-clock business operations, subject to safeguards covering employee welfare, safety, overtime and weekly holidays.The Assam Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, amends six state laws to reduce regulatory burdens, expedite approvals and promote investment.The assembly also passed the Assam Tourism (Development and Regulation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, repealing the colonial-era Sarai Act, 1867, governing hotels, lodges, inns, guest houses and resorts, and replacing it with a modern regulatory framework for the hospitality sector.
