INTRO: MLAs, MPs rarely visit the area to resolve issues, allege residents.
Residents of Fancy Bazar, the business hub of Guwahati that also caters to places in and around the city, have for long been grappling with many issues concerning their day-to-day life.
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With no one actually addressing their issues, they are left with no shoulder to cry on.
They are particularly angry with both the ruling BJP party and Opposition Congress party for ignoring the area and leaving them to their fate or, in other words, ‘bhagwan bharose’.
Day after day they have to confront traffic jams, poor drainage system, woeful garbage collection, inadequate drinking water, and the unregulated and ever mushrooming vending and parking chaos, among other inconveniences.
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A resident of Fancy Bazar, talking to GPlus said, “We were always seen as a BJP vote bank so when the Congress was in power, they neglected us”. He added that after BJP came to power, the party’s leaders don’t visit the area taking the residents for granted as they think the residents will anyways vote for the BJP. “We are left bhagwan bharose,” said the resident.
The resident further talked about the various issues faced by them.
He said that the residents have to waste hours because of the traffic chaos created by the railway crossings. “Why don’t the authorities stop movement of the goods trains during the day,” questioned the resident suggesting that if the movement of goods trains is restricted between 10 PM and 6 AM, much of the problem will be resolved. He further said, “I have never seen a police official at Kedar Road Chariali,” adding that there should be police personnel deployed at all the junctions of the area to manage the traffic. He also said that the parking issue should be resolved and a multilevel car parking at the GMDA’s parking lot should be constructed. He said that Fancy Bazar is in a mess now, and the authorities have ignored the area.
A businessman from Fancy Bazar, who is also an executive committee member of the state BJP, Rajkumar Tewari talking to GPlus said, “Fancy Bazar had drinking water issues but gradually it has reduced. Now 70% drinking water issue has been resolved and GMC is providing water,” adding though that there are still some issues which need to be taken care of. He said that the Botanical Garden is not of much use to the residents as only 100 to 150 people visit the garden, he said, “In the place of Botanical Garden, a multilevel parking lot should have been created and the parking at roads and lanes should have been banned. He further agreed that the MLAs and MPs do not visit from any party. Tewari said, “Visiting only before elections to ask for votes will not resolve the issues, they should visit during their five-year tenure.”
Many other residents echoed that the area is in a mess and requires urgent solution.
A resident, Paridhi Kucheia, complained that in her area (Kedar Road) street lights are not working since the last one year.
She had been complaining about the issue to all the officials and leaders of the ruling party of her area, but she did not get any help.
Many residents are also upset that the Fancy Bazar wholesale market is being shifted to North Guwahati, but their opinion on the decision was not taken.
Another resident said that the footpaths in some areas of the busiest Fancy Bazar area built above the drains have turned into death traps as the Public Works Department (PWD) has not replaced or repaired the broken iron slabs for years now despite repeated requests by the traders.
Garbage collection is another issue as the process is ad hoc and the area is always dirty.
Rajkumar Tewari said that the cleaning and garbage collection of the area should happen during the night.
Another resident said that there are unregulated vending in the area, which is also a reason for chaos. The resident said, “New vendors are seen occupying footpaths every day across the roads in Fancy Bazar area,” adding that vending zones are not there.
Ward councillor of ward number 16, Pramod Swamy said that a few people saying that the BJP leadering not coming to Fancy Bazar is not true at all. Swamy said, “The MLA is working for the area, the MP is working for the area and even I am working for the area,” adding that many bore wells were installed by him. He said the population in the city is increasing and many flyovers are coming up. “I have proposed to break the wall of Old Jail and increase the width of the road which will help reduce traffic jam,” said Swamy, claiming that the BJP leadership is working and gradually all the issues will be resolved.
GPlus tried to contact the State Housing and Urban Affairs minister, Ashok Singhal, but he was not available for comments.
