The ₹16.65-crore project is being criticised as poorly planned, with residents questioning its necessity.
Guwahati is preparing to inaugurate its 10th foot overbridge (FOB) near the Paltan Bazar police station tomorrow, January 1, 2025, despite many existing foot overbridges being in poor and deteriorating conditions. This has raised concerns among the public, who fear it will only add to the growing list of white elephants created by the PWD, a colossal waste of public funds.
A source within the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) told GPlus, "The PWD never consulted us about constructing the FoB at Paltan Bazar. Once the second railway gate is built, the foot overbridge may not be of much use. Moreover, the road is too narrow to accommodate such structures."
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City-based social activist, Padma Shri awardee, and former legislator Ajoy Kumar Dutta spoke to GPlus, criticising the FOB as "destructive, not developmental." He emphasised that AT Road is the oldest national highway in Assam, and constructing a foot overbridge on it is both rare and shocking. "I urge the Assam chief minister to visit and review the situation. I am stunned that local residents and the area representative have not protested against this. When it was known that the ASTC campus would be relocated, why was the need for the FoB not questioned?" Dutta added that none of the foot overbridges in Guwahati are properly maintained, and this one will likely face the same fate.
The Paltan Bazar foot overbridge was built at a cost of approximately Rs. 16.65 crore. Meanwhile, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is planning to construct permanent traffic islands at Ganeshguri, following approval of a redesign for the junction aimed at improving pedestrian safety. A similar plan was to be implemented in Paltan Bazar, but the foot overbridge has obstructed the proper design.
A source within the GMC explained, "The team working to redesign the entire stretch of Paltan Bazar to make it pedestrian-friendly is facing difficulties due to the foot overbridge."
The source further stated that the FOB appears poorly planned as it is located right at the entrance to the railway station. "Carrying luggage up the FOB will be a challenge for many, and after descending, passengers might have to climb another overbridge inside the railway station," they added. They also noted that the FOB should have been planned in consultation with the Northeast Frontier Railway, which is planning to redevelop the Paltan Bazar section of the railway station.
Many residents of the city have criticised the PWD for what they see as a wasteful project that misuses public money.
Addressing the apparent lack of planning, a PWD source explained, "The decision to construct the FoB came after multiple requests from the traffic police. The location often experiences traffic jams due to pedestrians crossing the road, and the FOB is expected to alleviate that issue."
While the PWD may claim that their approach is technically sound, they should reconsider the condition and effectiveness of the city's existing FOBs. Development is essential, but spending public money on poorly planned projects is deeply concerning.
