GUWAHATI: Chaos had started unfolding many hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft entered the Guwahati airspace around 7 on Tuesday evening. Right from the morning the administration had started preparing for Modi’s visit with the preparations, disrupting citizens out on their daily work. This would go on way after the Prime Minister finally set foot in Guwahati and then on to his resting place for the night.
The principal obstruction to life was, of course, traffic movement with massive snarls at several places stalling both people and, even more important, healthcare aids like the ubiquitous ambulance.
Talking to GPlus, Vivek Das, a daily commuter on GS Road, shared his experience, stating, "I left home around 3:45 pm from Rajdhani Masjid. Near the Ganesh Mandir, close to the rotary, I encountered roadblocks with barricades. I intended to head towards Zoo Road, but the road was blocked. It was frustrating … it was harassment of the highest order."
The traffic congestion in the Hatigaon area not only affected regular commuters, but also had a significant impact on healthcare services. Numerous ambulances were left stranded due to the roadblocks, causing delays in reaching their destinations to avail medical attention for the patients.
Dibyandu Das, an office-goer said, "I left early thinking I would escape the traffic bottleneck, but I had to wait for over an hour. I took the lanes of Tarun Nagar but the same situation persisted."
Talking to GPlus, a professor of Gauhati University seeking anonymity said, "Today, the police prevented city buses from stopping at Jalukbari during the day. As a result, people had to walk from Jalukbari to the Adabari bus stop, which is quite a distance. This situation is extremely frustrating."
The residents and pedestrians of Lachit Nagar in Guwahati faced a dilemma as the zebra crossing was barricaded since morning leaving many stranded on either side of the road; those with bodies more flexible did manage to squeeze through the gaps in the bamboo barricade. The option left to cross over was the foot overbridge some metres away near the Hanuman Mandir. To the uninitiated, it was an option never to be exercised again– simply put, the filth on the bridge is galling and an assault on the senses.
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Talking to GPlus, Hemen Das, a daily commuter in Lachit Nagar said, "This is ridiculous. We will be suffering all day because of the PM's visit. I tried to cross the road and found the zebra crossing blocked. What kind of rule is this?"
However, talking to GPlus, a traffic policeman in Lachit Nagar revealed that the barricade would be removed after 10 pm to facilitate normal pedestrian movement.
Take heart, pedestrians.
But then, now that he has come, Modi will also have to leave the city. That will be April 17. So…..
