Focus Area: Chatribari, Bilpara Main Road
Ward Number: 18
Population: Approx. 14,000
Voters: Around 13,000
The daily commute through Chatribari has become a nightmare for thousands of residents and office-goers. The already congested roads have been further burdened by the ongoing construction of a flyover in AT Road, leaving no room for smooth traffic flow.
ALSO READ: Dust Pollution From Flyover Construction Puts Guwahati Residents' Health At Risk
At key intersections, such as near the petrol pump, vehicles from all directions, including rickshaws, create a chaotic mess.
Talking to GPlus, Rohit Singh, a regular commuter in Chatribari said, "It is the same every day. The absence of proper traffic management makes it impossible to drive here."
Nearby, on AT Road, residents feel the effects even more acutely. A local shared, "The construction has diverted traffic onto Chatribari Road, but there are no alternative routes for us. The congestion is unbearable."
Talking to GPlus, Guwahati Traffic official, while acknowledging the inconvenience, explained, "The increasing number of vehicles and ongoing flyover work have made congestion inevitable. We are trying our best to manage the situation."
Lane 47: A Symbol of Neglect
The state of Lane 47 near Narbada Building reflects the larger civic issues plaguing Ward 18. For over 18 months, the narrow lane has been drowning under heaps of garbage, with broken roads adding to the woes of residents and workers in the area.
When GPlus visited Chatribari, the conditions were dire. The lane was lined with trash, including hazardous non-biodegradable waste such as broken toilet commodes, cardboard, and thermocol. Parking spaces were rendered unusable, and the uneven, bumpy road posed risks for pedestrians and vehicles alike.
A local worker described the situation: "This road has been ignored for over a year. Garbage is dumped carelessly, making the area unsanitary and unsafe for us to use."
Efforts to bring the issue to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC)’s attention through geo-tagged photos and complaints went unanswered. Matters worsened when government workers dug up the road for repairs, leaving loose paving blocks scattered, adding to the hazards.
The residents of Lane 47 have had enough.
Talking to GPlus, a shopkeeper in Chatribari said, "We have complained to GMC multiple times, but nothing changes. This garbage has been piling up for months, and the health risks are serious."
Parents in the area are worried about their children’s safety. "We have seen dengue cases here due to the unhygienic conditions. It’s not just inconvenient; it’s dangerous," said a resident.
Businesses are also feeling the pinch. The foul smell and unsanitary conditions have driven away customers. "Foot traffic has reduced drastically," lamented the owner of a hardware store. "Who would want to visit a place that stinks and is so unhygienic?"
The councillor for Ward 18, Sankar Chakraborty, promised swift action when approached. "We will clean up the garbage immediately. Residents can also contact the listed NGOs for quicker responses," he stated. Following this assurance, garbage was removed, and an NGO confirmed they acted on the councillor’s instructions.
However, temporary cleanups do little to solve the deeper problem of systemic neglect. A GMC official, speaking anonymously, admitted that resource shortages were delaying action. "We are aware of the issues in Lane 47. The transition to a new contractor for waste management has slowed our response time."
The ongoing shift in waste management responsibilities, with a new contractor taking over under revised guidelines, is being blamed for the delays.
Talking to GPlus, a senior GMC official explained, "The handover process is complex. It will take time for the new system to run smoothly. We’ve introduced 18 new packages under the new contractor and expect improvements soon."
For residents, though, these assurances are cold comfort. The visible pile-up of garbage and neglected roads signal a lack of accountability. Many believe that the GMC’s focus is limited to more prominent areas, while lanes like 47 are forgotten.
Empowering Residents
In an effort to bridge the gap, GMC has published contact details of NGOs responsible for waste management in different wards. While the idea holds promise, its effectiveness remains uncertain as issues in Ward 18 persist.
Chatribari’s woes—whether it’s the unmanageable traffic or the squalid conditions of Lane 47—highlight a larger civic failure. The residents of Ward 18 are left grappling with inadequate planning, insufficient resources, and delayed actions. As temporary fixes like garbage removal are celebrated, the systemic issues of waste management, road maintenance, and traffic control remain unaddressed.
For the 14,000 people who call this ward home, the situation reflects a city struggling to keep pace with its growing needs. Residents continue to wait for a day when their voices are heard, and their streets are treated with the attention they deserve.
The situation in Chatribari raises questions about the efficiency of Guwahati’s civic planning and management. Why are smaller lanes like Lane 47 consistently overlooked in maintenance efforts? How long will residents have to endure traffic congestion, garbage pile-ups, and neglected roads? As the city expands and infrastructure projects progress, can the authorities balance development with basic civic needs?
