Though the Brahmaputra riverfront project is delayed what has emerged is a concrete jungle and a very poor cousin of Mumbai’s Marine Drive
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The East Coast Road stretches for about 777 kilometres and connects Chennai to Kanyakumari via Pondicherry and Cuddalore. It runs along the Bay of Bengal and offers surreal views of the sea, especially during sunsets. It is one of the most scenic roadways in India. The Marine Drive in Mumbai stretches along the Arabian Sea in the shape of a ‘C’ from Babulnath to Nariman Point. The road looks bright and sunny during the day and wears another surreal look amid the quietness of the night. The Marine Drive offers beautiful view to both the people walking along the footpath and also the people taking a drive along the road. Talking about Guwahati, the city is not surrounded by ocean or sea but the mighty Brahmaputra provides a beautiful view to the public especially from Fancy Bazar till Uzan Bazar. As the Brahmaputra riverfront beautification work is ongoing, many feel that the beautiful river view which was expected even from the MG Road will no more be possible.
A source in Dispur, who was also a part of the team which pitched for Smart City project in Guwahati talking to GPlus on condition of anonymity said, “Initial idea of Brahmaputra riverfront beautification was not what is being done now,” adding that the main issue is that two different agencies are trying to beautify Brahmaputra riverfront’s one stretch which is the main attraction of the city. There is less coordination between them and there is a lack of planning.
While the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) is carrying out the beautification work from near Lachit Ghat till the south bank Ropeway junction, the Guwahati Smart City Ltd (GSCL) is doing the work from the Ropeway junction till the DC Bunglow near Raj Bhawan. A 6-kilometre-long riverfront stretches between Raj Bhawan (Kharghuli Hill) to Kamakhaya Temple (Nilachal Hill).
The Dispur source said that initial feasibility study conducted in 2017 said that a master plan landscape design for the 6 km stretch was required. Development of walkway, cycle track, jogging track along the riverfront from Rajbhawan to Kamakhaya Temple was required. Landscape design for 5 segments (Kamakhaya, Machchowa, Governor’s Hill, Kachari Ghat & Raj Bhawan) was required. Other things which were required were smart city pavilions, bank protection measures and infrastructural work (viewpoint, water stairs, fountain, interactive pond, ramps, stairs, jetty, ferry terminals, kiosk, bridges over outflow structures, etc.). Development of stairs from Chakreshwar temple to Kamakhaya Temple was also required. Similarly, many other plans were made at a budget of ₹826 crore approximately.
Whereas at present GMDA is carrying out the beautification work in a phased manner for a budget of around ₹82 crores. In the first phase the budget given to GMDA was ₹22 crore, in second phase ₹35 crore and the third phase, which is no yet approved, an estimated budget of ₹25 crore. GMDA’s project is concentrated from Lachit Ghat till south bank Ropeway terminal.
The GSCL meanwhile is beatifying the riverfront, 1.3 km Brahmaputra riverfront stretch from development project with a financial outlay of ₹370 crore. GSCL is expected to beatify Brahmaputra from Raj Bhawan view point till Ropeway terminal. A source in GSCL said that once implemented, the riverfront will have a walkway for people for recreational purposes with sitting arrangement, night illumination, and facility for cycling and leisurely sightseeing.
But the walkway at a level of 51.5m is blocking the view of the river from the roadside.
City-based social activist, former legislator and Padmashree awardee Ajoy Kumar Dutta talking to GPlus said, “It is not natural beautification of the riverfront, but construction of a concrete jungle,” adding that many trees have been cut and the beautiful view of the river from the road will be lost. He said that he has so many times reminded the government about the beautification requirement in the past, but he is shocked at whatever is going on now. He also said that the government on one hand is planning to demolish CJM court and the high court and on the other hand constructing a huge establishment in place of hotel Brahmaputra and the circuit house. “What kind of double standard is it,” he questioned.
It needs to be mentioned that forty trees were felled for the beautification project, which has drawn flak from the residents of Uzanbazar area in Guwahati as well as conservationists. Some of the trees were over 50 years old.
A source in GMDA said that people can get the view of the river from the road from Lachit Ghat till the Inland Water Transport jetty. The rest of the idea is that when people get up the park they can walk along the riverfront for a longer distance. There will be other amenities also.
City-based architect Ranel Das said that the project is welcome and will help the city in the long run. But he also said that the entrance of the park near the old SP office should not be elevated and the boundary wall should be transparent so that the public can see the park at least if not the river.
The GMDA source said that wherever there are land masses it has remained like that and the view of Brahmaputra from roadside will be available wherever possible.
The GMDA and GSCL are trying to complete the projects by Bohag Bihu next year, but some challenges exist. The CJM Court, High Court and the Chief Justice’s bungalow demolition permission is not yet availed which may slow down the process. It needs to be mentioned that Union minister Amit Shah inaugurated the Brahmaputra riverfront beatification project in January this year where the first and second phase of work carried out by GMDA was inaugurated for public.
The project is already delayed as according to smart city projects dream it should have been completed by 2022 but in Guwahati the project took place in 2022.
Whatever may be the project the concern remains that it will not be Mumbai’s Marine Drive.