GUWAHATI: The Beharbari junction in Guwahati has turned into a hotspot of traffic chaos, with severe snarls witnessed for hours almost daily. The situation has worsened following the closure of several highway cuts and U-turns on National Highway 27 (NH-27), particularly after the barricading of the opening at Lalmati.
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Authorities had initiated the closure of these highway openings citing public safety, but the move has rather added to the commuters’ woes. The Beharbari area now bears the brunt of diverted traffic, turning into a bottleneck during peak hours.
Speaking to GPlus, a business owner from Beharbari said, “As the U-turn near the BJP office has been closed, the traffic is diverted here for turnarounds. The main issue lies in the dual usage of service lanes. There are people who even travel on the wrong side of the service lane. Hence, the commotion.”
The chaotic situation has also drawn attention to the lack of proper traffic planning and enforcement. Motorists have alleged that vehicles routinely violate rules, with many using the service lanes incorrectly or driving on the wrong side to escape the jam, adding to the confusion.
A traffic official from Basistha police station, when contacted, attributed the congestion to the closed highway section near the Games Village area. “We have officials deployed to navigate the traffic,” he said, acknowledging the difficulties posed by the diversion.
However, locals feel that the presence of traffic personnel alone is not enough. “Despite having traffic personnel, the situation cannot be handled as the number of vehicles is just too much,” the business owner added.
Commuters and residents are now urging authorities to either reopen some strategic highway cuts or devise a more effective traffic management system to ease the pressure at Beharbari, which continues to reel under growing vehicular burden.
