GUWAHATI: The footpaths along GS Road in Ulubari have become perilous for pedestrians as large gaps left by missing concrete/frb slabs continue to pose serious risks. For days, these treacherous stretches have remained unrepaired, forcing residents and passersby to navigate with extreme caution, fearing for their safety. The ongoing neglect highlights a growing trend of infrastructural apathy in Guwahati, where pedestrians are increasingly vulnerable to preventable accidents.
ALSO READ: Delhi-Shillong Flight Makes Emergency Landing In Guwahati After Bomb Threat
Local shopkeepers and residents have voiced mounting frustration, alleging that the issue stems from recent desilting work conducted by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). According to a shopkeeper near the affected area, “GMC’s desilting left the footpath slabs loose, and they quickly deteriorated from there. Even now, no one’s bothered to restore it.”
The dangers of these crumbling footpaths are increased by two-wheeler riders illegally using the sidewalk to bypass traffic, further weakening the already precarious slabs. Public discontent is on the rise, with many recalling a recent tragedy in Bamunimaidan, where an open drain led to a young child’s death. The Ulubari footpaths, residents warn, could soon witness a similar incident if authorities do not act swiftly.
When reached for comment, a GMC official claimed ignorance of the specific hazards in Ulubari, while simultaneously deflecting responsibility to the Public Works Department (PWD). “We were unaware of the situation, but it will be addressed. Some projects were also executed by PWD here,” the official said, providing little reassurance to anxious residents.
Despite such assurances, both GMC and PWD have shown little urgency in resolving the issue, leaving pedestrians at risk. Residents are left questioning how many more such incidents must occur before meaningful action is taken. The recurring problems with Guwahati’s footpaths and open drains expose a chronic lack of accountability and highlight the dismal state of infrastructure management in the city.
As Guwahati grapples with these infrastructural failures, citizens remain in a dangerous limbo, their safety seemingly less of a priority than bureaucratic buck-passing. Without prompt and effective intervention, these “death traps” along GS Road will continue to endanger lives—an appalling reality that the authorities can no longer afford to ignore.