The residents of Rajiv Gandhi Path in Jyotikuchi seek authorities’ intervention to bar heavy vehicles, including city buses and school buses, from plying on the road. The Rajiv Gandhi Path is a small road that connects to ISBT from Jyotikuchi Tiniali. The traffic moving towards Lokhra from AK Azad Road gets diverted through Rajiv Gandhi Path and reaches Maniram Dewan Trade Centre near ISBT and Tirupati Balaji Temple.
The road has been under construction since 2016 and was completed in November 2022. As construction was ongoing at Lokhra for the flyover, to avoid massive traffic jams, almost all vehicles going to ISBT or other offices nearby from AK Azad Road used to take the Rajiv Gandhi Path to reach the destination. Now that the construction of Lokhra is completed and operational, still the vehicles, especially the heavy vehicles including school buses and city buses, ply on the road which is a matter of concern for the residents.
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“There are various traffic issues that are growing in the area because of heavy vehicular activity on the road which has started since the NH 27 construction for flyovers started,” said a shopkeeper of the area adding that during peak hours nowadays there is a huge traffic jam at the Jyotikuchi Tiniali.
The Jyotikuchi Tiniali point is also jam-packed with parked shared taxis, and e-rickshaws, and also there is an auto stand, said another resident of the area.
Manoj Dev, a resident of Rajiv Gandhi Path said, “Before it could be understood that because of the construction at Lokhra, vehicles had to take this route to reach ISBT and vice-versa. Now the Lokhra flyover is operational at least heavy vehicles, including school buses and city buses, can be barred from plying on this lane,” adding that there is no speed limit set on the lane and it is a small road. He explained that heavy vehicles drive very fast on the lane and the condition of the road is also not good because of Guwahati Jal Board pipe laying work. “It has turned into an accident-prone zone,” said Dev.
Many residents similarly raised concerns about the situation and requested that heavy vehicles should be barred from plying on the road.
An e-rickshaw driver said, “We are not allowed to ply on state and national highways, Rajiv Gandhi path is a lane and now we face problems driving here because of heavy vehicles and even share taxis and buses take our share of passengers.”
The Fatasil Ambari traffic police said that they cannot bar the movement of vehicles unless they get orders from their superiors.
DCP Traffic Jayanta Sarathi Borah said that if they receive complaints from the local residents they will look into the matter.
Gauhati West MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita talking to GPlus said, “I have noticed the situation and I will take action.”