The AK Azad Road, a vital arterial connecting Paltan Bazar and Lokhra, has become a battleground for residents and commuters, as multiple developmental projects undertaken by various departments have left the road in shambles. The Public Works Department (PWD) and Guwahati Jal Board (GJB) are the main players in this chaotic scenario.
With the PWD focusing on installing dividers and carrying out drainage works, and the GJB simultaneously laying water pipelines, the road has become a nightmare for daily commuters. The concurrent efforts of both departments have resulted in restricted vehicular movement, reduced to single lanes in some sections of the road. As a consequence, accidents have become more frequent, and gridlock is a common sight.
Binapani Nath, a resident, speaking to GPlus, expressed their frustration, saying, "The condition of AK Azad Road is appalling. It feels like a never-ending maze of construction, and navigating through it has become a daily struggle."
Motorists have shared harrowing tales of narrowly escaping accidents due to the hazardous conditions of the road. "I had a close call last week when a dump of sand appeared out of nowhere, causing my bike to skid. Luckily, I managed to regain control, but it was a terrifying experience," shared Ranjan Chettri.
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Businesses along the AK Azad Road are also feeling the brunt of the ongoing construction. "Our sales have plummeted since the construction began. Customers are hesitant to visit our shops due to the chaotic traffic and lack of parking space. It's affecting our livelihood," a shop owner in that area lamented.
The public's dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs is palpable. "We understand the need for development, but it shouldn't come at the cost of inconveniencing the public. The authorities need to find a better way to manage these projects without disrupting our daily lives," voiced another resident.
Despite repeated complaints from the public, there seems to be little respite in sight. "We have raised our concerns with the authorities multiple times, but it seems like our pleas are falling on deaf ears. The situation is only getting worse," expressed a frustrated commuter.
Another major concern raised by the public is the construction work of the newly proposed flyover at the Cycle factory junction. The flyover will be extended up to Lal Ganesh Market towards Lokhra. The state government has approved Rs. 376.11 crore for the construction of the flyover. The flyover is expected to ease traffic congestion for commuters travelling from Lokhra, Sarusajai, ISBT, Betkuchi, Garchuk, Jalukbari, Lal Ganesh and Odalbakra towards the city centre.
The major components of the project include the building of a flyover, approaches with RE walls, service roads, drainage work, development of a parking area, restoration of existing roads, and road safety works.
Meanwhile, the residents and public express their weary sighs on what is going on at present and what will be carried on after the flyover project is initiated in full swing.
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Speaking to GPlus, a senior official from PWD shared, "The preliminary survey is going on for the flyover, we have completed setting up dividers in a few portions of the road and the work still continues. We are expecting to get it done in the next two months. The total length of the divider is around 3 km and we have been allotted a sum of nearly Rs 10 crore. Anil Das is the contractor who will be looking after the project."
"Among dividers, the project also includes restoration of drainage system and footpaths. As certain sections of the road are narrow, acquiring land from the residents has been a problem. There are a few concerned citizens who are happy to help, but there are other groups who oppose the decision. This further leads to delays in construction. There are times when work is disrupted by locals, this happens mostly at night under the influence of alcohol. Despite such challenges, we continue with the work," added the official.
GJB on the other hand has equally contributed towards the misery of the public by continuing their digging process. Huge pipes and heaps of unearthed soil have led to a major disruption of the commute.
When GPlus tried to contact GJB, a senior official replied, "We are laying pipes in portions which are incomplete. A patch of around 250 meters of work is still left. And we are hoping to complete it within the next 20 days."
Earlier, the negligence of contractors to restore an unearthed location led to a fatal outcome near Ganeshguri. Only time will reveal whether the concerned authority repeats the same mistake or rather provides a restored road for the safety of the commuters.
In the midst of this chaos, residents and commuters are left to navigate through a maze of construction, hoping for normalcy to return to AK Azad Road. Until then, their daily lives continue to be plagued by the relentless disruptions caused by the developmental projects.
