GUWAHATI: The road in the Kacharibasti area of the city, that links Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to Ganeshguri, is crying for restoration for more than a year and a half now.
Commuters and ambulances travelling through the road lose their valuable time as the once 100-metre stretch of the road that was deplorable has extended now with almost the entire road in a pathetic condition. With construction materials, electrical wires, readymade footpath blocks and manhole covers covering almost half of the road along the entire stretch, commuting has becoming increasingly difficult. Moreover, garbage lies accumulated at some places, with the issue of water-logging and water filled potholes strewn adding to the menace and traffic congestion.
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Every day, the road remains clogged with sewage water. Residents of the area complained that nearly one-and-a-half year ago, JICA dug up the road to install water supply pipes in the area and left the road in a dilapidated condition without repairing it. Since then, they are facing trouble commuting through the road.
A local resident said, “During JICA’s work, a cross-drain that carries sewage water and connects to the main drain at Bhangagarh, got blocked. As a result, sewage water couldn’t flow through the drains and flooded the road.” HE added, “The authorities concerned do not carry out desiltation of the drains regularly due to which silt gets accumulated in the drains and leads to the drains overflowing. Even if the authorities desilt the drains, they leave extracted silt on the roads, which later again flow down to the drains and the problem continues.”
The local residents of the area said they have approached the Gauhati Municipal Corporation (GMC) several times and requested then to repair the road but their requests have fallen on deaf ears. Earlier in August, an e-rickshaw loaded with passengers, overturned and fell into a pit. There have been many incidents likewise, with two-wheelers bearing the brunt of the potholes under the water and ultimately losing balance and falling. It has become riskier by the day.
Commuters have to go through the ordeal of maneuvering through pathetic road conditions every day. Even pedestrians’ are at risk as they have to be ultra sincere while walking through this road. Students of the nearby NEF Law College expressed their concern on the pathetic condition of the road. A student of the colleges said, “The college is at a walking distance from my rented accommodation. But waterlogging is a perennial problem in the area due to which we miss our classes frequently.”
Talking to GPlus, a shopkeeper commented on the issue, saying, “The construction and repair work has started but every time there is light rain, the water accumulates flooding the road. Moreover, the workers are least bothered as they leave the construction materials halfway unattended and the sand ultimately enters the drain after rain. Even trucks keep blocking the traffic, making it a one way road. We are facing losses as there is no parking available.”
The issues are many, but there is only one way to solve them all- making a proper and systemic plan to repair and restore the road.