GUWAHATI: Decorative lighting on the Stadium Overbridge near Guwahati Club now lies in disrepair. Residents and commuters are raising concerns about the non-functional lights, questioning the utility of such projects when maintenance seems to be an afterthought. The issue sheds light on a broader problem of theft, poor upkeep, and financial accountability within the city’s urban development initiatives.
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Talking to GPlus, Manjit Sharma, a daily commuter on the Guwahati Club said,"These lights haven’t been working for quite a long time.Why were they installed in the first place if they weren’t going to be maintained?”
Another resident in Ulubari talking to GPlus said, “When the lights were first installed, they looked so beautiful,” they said. “Now what happened? I am sure crores of rupees were spent on these beautification projects. But where’s the decoration now?”
The larger question is whether these beautification drives are worth the investment if sustainability is not a priority.
A local shopkeeper near Nehru stadium said, “It is not just about beautification; it’s about accountability. We see the government spending money on these projects, but what is the use if they don’t last?”
This highlights public frustration with projects that promise aesthetic improvement but fail to deliver due to poor maintenance and resource allocation.
When approached for clarification, a senior official from the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) cited theft as a recurring issue.
Talking to GPlus, a senior official from GMDA said, “The wires get stolen. We have installed them many times, but they keep getting stolen."
The official added that while GMDA is exploring measures to address these thefts, such as using theft-resistant materials and increasing surveillance, the problem persists due to the lack of adequate enforcement and public vigilance.
