GUWAHATI: The ₹14 Cr alternative route that connects Pandu in Maligaon to Kamakhya temple, which has been lying closed since May 2022, is likely to be reopened within three months. The route was opened in 2021 for a smooth visit of devotees to the temple. The 4-km long road was constructed to reduce traffic on the old and main road, thereby attracting more tourists to experience the scenic view of the Brahmaputra from the new route. However, the road had to be closed following several accidents, landslides and natural occurrences.
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Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the issues in December last year and ordered the engineers to address these and reconstruct the road for the safety of the devotees. ” The road was constructed to ease traffic and attract more visitors, but the recent accidents have raised a question over devotees' safety. Therefore, we are planning to reconstruct a major portion of the road,” Sarma had then said.
A visitor from Maligaon interacting with GPlus said, “I travelled on the road before the outbreak of Coronavirus. It has many faults, and there had been a lot of accidents in the past and it would be good if the Public Works Department (PWD) rectifies this at the earliest.”
A resident of the area, Mukul, said, “I have used the road once in 2021 when it was opened. It is full of scenic beauty, there are some major faults in the construction, and that needs to be rectified. Restoration work is ongoing. And, the PWD has assured us that the work will be complete within three months. However, I don’t think so it will be complete within time looking at the current scenario.”
A senior official from the Amingaon PWD office said, “We had started the road for public, but the accidents made us realise our faults. We have found that there is a hairpin turn on the road and two steep gradients. These need to be rectified. Therefore, we are working to construct a new bridge that would resolve the issue to a large extent. We are also planning a diversion to avoid the steep portion. This will not only make the ride safer, but also enable devotees enjoy a more scenic view of the Brahmaputra.”