Inauguration of the Guwahati-North Guwahati Bridge's elevated corridor, intended to ease traffic congestion, has left residents stranded and frustrated
After the inauguration of the elevated south bank corridor of the Guwahati-North Guwahati Bridge on March 4, a sense of exasperation emerged among the public as the daily commute for the residents was disrupted for those staying in between Bhootnath and Machkhowa. The existing MG road which has been barricaded from the Bhootnath area to the Machkhowa area now stands as a hindrance for the regular activities of the masses.
The construction of the six-lane Guwahati-North Guwahati bridge started in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 2,608.68 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the bridge in February 2019. However, the progress of the construction was affected by the recent pandemic. Around 82% of the construction of the bridge has been completed and the authority is expecting to open the bridge by December.
There are a total of six foundations (span). The distance between each of the six foundations is 200 metres and the foundations are embedded 56 metres under the riverbed. The bridge is expected to be the country’s longest extradosed bridge. For the first time in the country a “friction pendulum bearing technology” is being used on the bridge to mitigate the risk posed by earthquakes.
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It needs to be mentioned that Assam falls in the Earthquake-5 zone, hence such technologies are vital. The design of the bridge has been made according to the Indian Road Congress guidelines. The total length of the bridge will be 1,600 metres measured from south to north bank, of which 1,240 meters will be designed as a multi-span extra-dosed bridge with an individual span length of 200 metres between consecutive pylons, the longest in the country. The bridge is being constructed by SP Singla Pvt Ltd and the construction is being supervised by a Brazilian company.
However, the corridor which was supposed to ease the connectivity between Bhootnath and Machkhowa and vice versa by diverting traffic over the river is now posing a challenge for the residents of the locality.
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister while addressing the media said the elevated corridor will now decongest the around 3 km-long Bhootnath-Machkhowa stretch of the MG Road. "Traffic coming from Jalukbari end will get diverted to the elevated corridor at Bhootnath and will reach the MG Road at Machkhowa while vehicles travelling from Panbazar end will use the existing MG Road to go towards Jalukbari. Both roads will be one way from March 5," he added.
Meanwhile, once the traffic restrictions were imposed the woes of the public were only aggravated. Residents who used to avail public transportation moving from Bhootnath to Machkhowa are now left stranded especially at the stretch in between those areas.
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Speaking to GPlus, a resident of that area expressed, "We understand that the corridor will be instrumental for the overall connectivity of the city but there are no options left for us to travel to and fro. Just the day after the inauguration we had to walk quite the distance to buy our essentials. Apart from the easing of traffic congestion on one side how is it benefiting us? We want the concerned authority to figure out a solution."
Pranita Das, another resident of Maligaon expressed, "My son had no option to reach the school directly. He had to walk from Bhootnath. With loaded bags and the weather conditions, it will be more difficult in the coming months."
The CM also mentioned earlier the corridor has been built with noise-barrier technology as it passes behind the Sonaram HS School at Bharalu. "The students will not get disturbed by vehicle movement through the corridor," he added.
Although important technologies have been installed on the corridor the negligence for ease of commute has raised concerns among the public.
Another pressing matter is the increase of E-rickshaws near the entry and exit points of the corridor. With the lack of short-distance transport options, the number of E-rickshaws have started to gradually increase at that portion.
Speaking to GPlus, an e-rickshaw driver said, "Eventually there will be long queues of rickshaws waiting near the junctions of the corridor. New drivers will take the opportunity to take a roundabout near Machkhowa and drop passengers while returning towards Maligaon. This will further intensify the traffic problems unless a solution is figured out."
A student from Pragjyotish College lamented, "This was totally unexpected. We were excited about the corridor but traffic restrictions have shattered it all. The Shantipur link roads are already jam-packed. Now we have taken another round to reach the college."
It also needs to be mentioned that there are other developmental projects in hand which are supposed to start soon near the Bharalumukh area. A rotary has been proposed which will extend towards Solapara and Maligaon.
While discussing about removing the traffic restrictions a senior traffic police official mentioned, "There are no such plans of removing the barricades as the concerned authorities are planning to start with the construction of a project soon. Regarding the commute of public, DTO enforcement will have to figure out something."
As the debate about opening the traffic restrictions continues, citizens are urging the authorities to at least provide a service lane to alleviate the present scenario.