Planned "Satellite" Cities a Part of Development Strategy in South Asia

"In Guwahati, Assam, one of the world’s 100 fastest growing cities, officials are... turning to the strategy of stemming growth using satellite towns. Guwahati is the largest city in India’s northeast region, and has three satellite cities in the works... The  strategy  is  part  of  a  plan  to  curb  the city’s transportation woes...  By  building  satellite  cities, officials  hope  to  plan  for  its growing population. These cities will be connected via two bus rapid transit corridors."

"Inspired by India’s ongoing efforts on this front, the Bangladeshi government is considering the public‐private partnership model for its satellite cities. The ministry sees in this model the opportunity to bring in foreign investment, and several companies from India, Malaysia, and South Korea have already submitted proposals."
 

Implications from Searchlight South Asia:

"What  is  clear  is  that  these  satellite  cities need  strong,  conscientious  leaders  from the  outset.  Without  a  governance  structure  that  includes  a  voice  for sustainability,  and  a  voice  for  the  poor, these  cities  are  likely  to  develop  in  a fragmented,  socially  exclusionary  way.  If  that  happens,  we  are  likely  to  see  yet another  cluster  of  fortress  cities,  lacking in  social  infrastructure,  and  doomed  to fail in the long run."