Guwahati, the largest city in Assam and the gateway to the Northeast, has long suffered from poor governance, lack of infrastructural planning, and ineffective leadership. Despite being one of the fastest-growing urban centres in India, its public representatives—MLAs, MPs, and municipal officials—have largely failed in addressing key issues such as traffic congestion, drainage problems, environmental degradation, and haphazard urbanisation. The shortcomings and the consequences of their inefficiency will have a long term effect in the quality of life of the residents of the city.
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One of the biggest failures of Guwahati’s public representatives is their inability to implement proper urban planning. As the city expands rapidly, its infrastructure struggles to keep up. Roads are poorly maintained, traffic congestion is severe, and public transportation remains inadequate.
Guwahati’s roads are in a perpetual state of disrepair, with potholes and uneven surfaces causing frequent accidents. The city lacks a well-planned road network, leading to severe traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. Despite multiple promises by elected officials, flyovers and alternative routes have been delayed or poorly executed. Public transport, including buses and ferries, remains unorganised, forcing people to rely on private vehicles, worsening the chaos.
Guwahati faces frequent waterlogging during monsoons due to inadequate drainage infrastructure. Encroachment on natural water bodies, such as wetlands and streams, has worsened the situation, yet public representatives have failed to take action against illegal constructions. Despite repeated assurances, no long-term flood mitigation plan has been effectively implemented. Much has been spoken of, but the speed of execution remains a question mark.
Guwahati’s representatives have failed to protect the city’s environment, leading to increasing pollution, deforestation, and poor waste management. Unregulated urbanisation has resulted in the destruction of hills and wetlands, which are crucial for the city’s ecological balance. Public representatives have turned a blind eye to illegal construction activities on hills and floodplains. The destruction of natural drainage systems has worsened flooding in the city.
The city generates hundreds of tons of waste daily, but there is no efficient waste segregation or disposal system in place. The Boragaon landfill site has turned into an environmental disaster, yet the authorities have failed to implement alternative waste management solutions. Despite various “clean city” campaigns, garbage dumping in public spaces remains a persistent issue.
Despite being located near the Brahmaputra, Guwahati faces frequent water shortages due to poor management of water resources. Large sections of the population still lack access to clean drinking water, despite repeated promises from local representatives. The city’s water supply infrastructure is possibly outdated and inefficient, leading to frequent disruptions. Makeshift solutions and mismanagement in the municipal water supply department have further exacerbated the crisis.
Guwahati’s representatives have also failed to ensure proper law enforcement, leading to increasing crime rates and public safety concerns.
Rising incidents of theft, burglary, and street crimes have made certain areas unsafe. Women’s safety remains a concern, with increasing reports of harassment and crimes against women. Traffic rule enforcement is weak, with frequent violations leading to accidents and road rage incidents. Illegal activities, including land grabbing and drug trafficking, continue to thrive.
One of the most significant failures of Guwahati’s public representatives is lack of transparency.
Numerous projects, such as road construction, drainage improvement, and public housing, either remain incomplete or are of substandard quality due to unknown reasons. Allegations are rife that contractors with political connections often receive tenders without proper scrutiny, leading to poor execution of infrastructure projects.
Despite the introduction of digital governance initiatives, transparency remains a major issue in Guwahati’s municipal management. Citizen complaints regarding civic issues are often ignored, and public grievances remain unattended.
Despite being the economic and cultural hub of Assam, Guwahati struggles with inadequate healthcare and education facilities. Government hospitals and healthcare centres are overcrowded and lack sufficient medical staff and equipment. The poor state of primary healthcare facilities forces residents to seek expensive private treatment. Public representatives have failed to improve emergency healthcare services, leading to a lack of ambulances and critical care units.
Government schools suffer from poor infrastructure, lack of teachers, and outdated teaching methods. Higher education institutions in Guwahati lack proper funding, affecting the quality of research and academic development.
Guwahati is highly vulnerable to floods and earthquakes, yet disaster preparedness remains inadequate. Despite repeated flooding every monsoon, there has been no long-term flood management plan implemented effectively. The city lacks proper emergency response systems, leading to chaos during natural disasters. Evacuation plans and relief measures are often mismanaged, leaving thousands of people stranded during
Guwahati needs visionary leadership that can plan for the city’s future growth while addressing its current challenges. However, its public representatives have consistently failed in this regard. Election campaigns are filled with tall promises, but little progress is seen once politicians are in power. Long-term urban planning is missing, leading to an unsustainable and chaotic expansion of the city. Politicians focus on short-term populist measures rather than implementing policies
Guwahati’s public representatives have largely failed in addressing the city’s pressing issues. From poor infrastructure and environmental degradation to corruption and lack of transparency, their inefficiency has hindered the city’s progress.
To improve governance and accountability, the following steps must be taken:
1. Citizen Participation: People must actively engage in governance by holding elected representatives accountable.
2. Transparency and Anti-Corruption Measures: Strict monitoring of public funds and projects is needed to reduce delays and cost overruns.
3. Sustainable Urban Planning: Authorities must implement a long-term urban development strategy that includes better road networks, drainage, markets and green spaces.
4. Improved Public Services: Strengthening healthcare, education, and law enforcement will improve the quality of life for residents.
5. Efficient Disaster Management: A proactive approach is needed to tackle flooding and other natural calamities.
Unless these issues are addressed, Guwahati will continue to suffer from misgovernance, making life difficult for its residents. The city’s growth should be matched with responsible leadership and a commitment to sustainable development.
(All views and opinions expressed are author’s own)
