As the political fervour intensifies in Guwahati, residents grapple with the disruptive aftermath of VIP visits and campaign rallies. From barricaded zebra crossings to blocked roads and shuttered businesses, the city's daily life is increasingly marred by inconveniences and frustrations.
GUWAHATI: As the political campaign season heats up, the streets of Guwahati become arenas for political displays, with politicians and their entourages descending upon the city. However, amidst the pomp and grandeur, the public often finds themselves at the receiving end of inconvenience and harassment.
Prime Minister Modi's visit to Guwahati on April 17 exemplified this dilemma. While the PM engaged in high-level meetings and inaugurated development projects, residents and pedestrians of Lachit Nagar faced a troubling situation. The zebra crossing, a vital pedestrian crossing point, was barricaded ahead of the PM's visit, leaving many stranded and frustrated.
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Earlier, speaking to GPlus, Hemen Das, a daily commuter, voiced his frustration, stating, "This is ridiculous. We will be suffering all day because of the PM's visit. What kind of rule is this?" However, a traffic police officer revealed to GPlus that the barricades would be removed after 10:00 p.m. to facilitate normal pedestrian movement.
In response to the blocked zebra crossing, many turned to the nearby foot over bridge near Hanuman Mandir as an alternative. However, the sorry state of the foot over bridge, marred by trash, spit, and homelessness, deterred its usage. Dipika Kalita, a shopkeeper, lamented, "The condition of the footbridge is appalling. It's dirty, uncomfortable, and unsafe."
The neglect of infrastructure like the foot over bridge raises concerns about public safety and highlights the lack of accountability from authorities. Ratul Deka, an office worker, urged, "The relevant authorities must take action to clean up and maintain this dilapidated footbridge."
Similarly, ahead of Union Minister Amit Shah's visit on April 29, Guwahati residents faced major disruptions. Roads were blocked, causing traffic jams and inconvenience for commuters.
Nayan Deka, a commuter from Jalukbari, talking to GPlus said, "It's incredibly frustrating because most of the roads are blocked due to Amit Shah's visit. It feels like harassment for the public."
Similarly, a resident of Lal Ganesh complained, "The whole area from Lal Ganesh to Cycle Factory has been blocked for nearly two days because of Amit Shah's visit. They've even cut down trees. It's a complete nuisance. Every time a VIP comes, the public is left to deal with the consequences."
Adding to the chorus of complaints, Joy Das, a daily bus commuter in Beltola, lamented that there were hardly any buses available. "In fact," he added, "there were none in Beltola, so I had no choice but to take an e-rickshaw to the supermarket."
A resident of Rajgarh, speaking to GPlus, said, "The roads were blocked in our area on April 30 due to a campaign in Bihu Toli. It's causing inconvenience to everyone." Amidst the chaos, a daily commuter emphasized the impact of roadblocks, stating, "The roadblocks for rallies are making it difficult for people to navigate through the city. It's time-consuming and adds to the frustration of the public."
Moreover, on May 2, vendors in Beltola Bazaar were asked to clear out their shops for campaigning and rallies, disrupting their livelihoods. Beltola Bazaar, a bustling market and a lifeline for the locality, witnessed vendors being forced to shut shop on one of their busiest days.
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Speaking to GPlus, a 56-year-old vegetable seller expressed disappointment, saying, "Today is our peak earning day, and now we are asked to close down for election rallies. This is really sad."
Will Guwahati residents soon need to book their schedules around VIP visits and campaign rallies, or can they look forward to a day when their daily routines won't be rudely interrupted by roadblocks and inconveniences?
