Guwahati is getting a makeover ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Advantage Assam 2.0, but residents yearn for a more permanent overhaul
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit Assam for the highly anticipated Advantage Assam 2.0 Summit, the city of Guwahati is undergoing a sudden transformation. Besides the prime minister, the city will play host to business delegations both from the country and abroad. Roads are being patched, public spaces are being beautified, and neglected areas are receiving long-overdue attention. However, for many residents, this last-minute makeover is nothing more than a temporary facelift—a hurried attempt to mask the city's long-standing infrastructural decay.
ALSO WARD WATCH: Flyover Construction In Bamunimaidam Triggers Waterlogging, Dust Pollution
With Prime Minister Modi scheduled to land in Guwahati at approximately 5 PM on February 24, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has assured that the city will be fully prepared to host the event. The summit, which will feature a cultural performance of Jhumur on the evening of February 24 and a business conclave on February 25 and February 26, has spurred an unexpected flurry of restoration work across the city.
While some citizens see the sudden improvements as a positive development, many argue that such efforts should not be event-driven but a continuous process. A common sentiment among Guwahati residents is that the city only receives attention when a high-profile dignitary is set to visit.
“If the PM’s visit can make the authorities take action, then maybe we need more VIP visits every month,” said a resident from Dispur, sarcastically commenting on the situation. “The moment they announce a visit, everything gets cleaned up overnight. But as soon as the dignitaries leave, the city returns to its usual neglected state.”
This is not the first time that Guwahati has undergone an artificial makeover before an important visit. Be it the President, the Prime Minister, or a foreign delegation, the city's main roads, flyovers, and key public spaces have often received last-minute improvements—only to be abandoned once the visit concludes.
Areas that have remained in disrepair for years are suddenly witnessing hasty repair work. Several PWD teams have been deployed across the city to fill potholes, repaint road dividers, and clear garbage from footpaths. However, residents argue that this superficial clean-up does not address the deeper infrastructural problems that plague Guwahati.
One such glaring example is GS Road, one of the busiest stretches in Guwahati, which is frequently waterlogged at certain spots during the monsoons. Despite its importance, it has long suffered from poor drainage, uneven patches, and clogged footpaths. Yet, only now—conveniently before the PM’s visit—does the PWD seem eager to take action.
A PWD official, speaking to GPlus, confirmed that no official estimate has been sanctioned for the ongoing improvements. Instead, the work is being carried out under an SOPD project titled "Improvement of GS Road and other main areas."
“Earlier, there were separate tenders like ‘Beautification of Guwahati for President/PM visit’, but those tenders were often exploited by quoting inflated estimates,” the official admitted. “Now, instead of issuing fresh tenders, the work will be included in existing projects and future bills.”
This revelation raises serious questions:
- Why was the work not carried out earlier if it was already part of an ongoing project?
- How much of the budget will be allocated to these last-minute ‘touch-ups’?
- Will these improvements be maintained, or will they deteriorate once the event is over?
Beyond road repairs, even the city’s beautification projects have been revived overnight. From new coat of paint on footpaths to decorative flower pots appearing in key locations, these measures serve as little more than visual distractions.
Yet, once the event ends, residents fear these efforts will fade away, much like previous beautification projects that were left to deteriorate. Flyover murals, public parks, and even landmark areas have repeatedly been repainted before high-profile visits, only to be ignored afterward.
Moreover, the sudden emphasis on beautification does not change the grim reality of Guwahati’s civic issues. Key problems such as traffic congestion, irregular garbage collection, poor public transport, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure remain unresolved. Instead of focusing on these persistent issues, authorities seem more interested in creating an illusion of progress whenever the spotlight is on them.
While the business community and local entrepreneurs may look forward to Advantage Assam 2.0, the general public is dreading the disruptions that typically accompany such high-profile visits.
The presence of heavy security, traffic diversions, and movement restrictions will likely cause severe inconvenience to commuters and daily wage workers. In the past, similar visits have resulted in roadblocks, sudden vehicle detentions, and prolonged traffic snarls, making it difficult for the public to go about their daily routines.
Additionally, local businesses operating near GS Road, Khanapara, and the Guwahati Airport route fear that the heightened security measures will impact their daily earnings, especially small vendors who depend on foot traffic.
While Advantage Assam 2.0 aims to highlight investment opportunities in the state, the real advantage seems to be reserved for the officials using the event as an excuse to justify delayed projects.
The public has seen this pattern repeat itself time and again—the city receives a temporary facelift, funds are allocated under vague projects, and once the VIPs leave, everything returns to its neglected state.
If Guwahati is truly to benefit from Advantage Assam, then city-wide development needs to be a consistent and transparent process rather than a last-minute cosmetic makeover. Until then, the residents of Guwahati will continue to joke about needing frequent VIP visits just to see their city get the attention it deserves.
