The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) has announced a series of significant citizen-centric reforms aimed at supporting small businesses, promoting sustainable transportation, and enhancing social equity across the city, according to a press release issued on May 9, 2025.
The comprehensive package of initiatives focuses on three major areas: simplifying trade licensing, implementing free parking for smaller vehicles, and waiving market fees for underprivileged female vendors.
Streamlined Trade License System
In a major overhaul of its regulatory framework, GMC has dramatically simplified the trade license issuance process by reducing the number of trade categories from approximately 7,000 to fewer than 150. This substantial reduction is expected to streamline licensing procedures, making them more accessible and efficient for business owners.
Additionally, the annual trade license fee for small establishments such as pan shops, grocery stores, and similar small businesses with a floor area of less than 100 square feet has been reduced from ₹1,750 to ₹1,000. This 43% reduction is intended to ease the financial burden on micro-entrepreneurs while encouraging formalization within the local economy.
Free Parking Initiative
Confirming earlier announcements, the GMC has officially declared that all its tendered parking lots will be free of charge for two-wheelers and three-wheelers starting June 1, 2025. This initiative aims to reduce intra-city mobility costs and promote the use of smaller, more sustainable modes of transport.
Also Read – Guwahati Municipal Corporation Introduces Free Parking for Two and Three-Wheelers
Market Fee Waiver for Female SC/ST Vendors
In what the GMC describes as a “landmark decision to foster social equity and economic empowerment,” female vendors belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) will be exempt from paying market fees in all GMC-leased markets beginning June 1, 2025.
The process for issuing identity documentation to eligible beneficiaries will commence shortly, allowing these vendors to benefit from the waiver program as soon as it is implemented.
Commitment to Inclusive Urban Development
These reforms collectively reflect GMC’s commitment to building a more inclusive, accessible, and trader-friendly urban environment in Guwahati, the largest city in Assam.
“GMC urges all stakeholders to actively participate in the implementation process and avail the benefits under the new provisions,” the press release concluded, emphasizing the need for community engagement in making these initiatives successful.
