Unregulated bus stops, jaywalking, and no traffic control make Kamakhya Gate a nightmare for daily commuters and locals
Guwahati’s Kamakhya Gate is caught in a daily web of chaos, with traffic turning into a complete mess every morning and evening. Buses stop wherever they please, autos and cars battle for space, and pedestrians dash across the road, ignoring the foot overbridge. It’s a scene of utter disorder that residents and commuters are tired of dealing with.
For thousands who pass through this stretch every day, frustration has become a routine. Nabanita Das, a daily commuter, adjusts her schedule in an attempt to beat the traffic but says nothing really helps. “I leave home early, thinking I’ll avoid the rush, but the traffic here is always a disaster. Buses block the road, people jump in and out, and there’s no one to control it. It’s a mess,” she said.
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The root of the problem lies in the bus stop situation. Officially, Kamakhya Gate is designated as a stop for buses going towards Kalipur, but it is far from convenient for those actually heading to these areas. Instead of stopping at the designated stop, buses halt right after the flyover, choking the already congested road. “It’s not just a problem for the passengers, but also for the overall traffic movement,” says Ramesh Barman, another daily traveller. “There’s no system at all. Buses stop wherever they feel like, and we’re stuck for ages. No one seems to care about fixing this.”
Pedestrians add to the mess by avoiding the foot overbridge altogether. The overbridge, meant to ensure safe crossing, is largely ignored. Instead, people prefer dashing across the road, weaving between moving vehicles. Manas Das, who runs a hardware store near the area, witnesses this recklessness every day. “Nobody wants to climb the bridge. They think it takes too much time, so they just run across. But that only creates more problems—traffic slows down, accidents almost happen, and it’s a headache for drivers,” he says.
The consequences of this chaos are not just limited to traffic congestion but also safety risks. Accidents are common in the area, with many incidents reported over the years. Vehicles screech to a halt as pedestrians suddenly appear in front of them, while bikers often get caught between erratic bus stops and reckless jaywalking. “I’ve seen so many accidents here,” says Kishore Baruah, a local shopkeeper.
“Just a few days after its inauguration, there was an accident on the flyover. It was horrifying,” recalls a local shopkeeper who witnessed the crash.
The Nilachal Flyover, which was built to ease congestion in the area, has failed to serve its purpose. The idea was to divert traffic smoothly over Kamakhya Gate, reducing bottlenecks below. But in reality, the situation has only worsened. Since buses stop right after the flyover, vehicles coming down from it are forced to slow down suddenly, leading to jams and near-misses. “The flyover was meant to reduce traffic, but it doesn’t seem to be working. The problem isn’t just the road—it’s the lack of discipline and regulation,” says Kuldeep Nath, a local resident.
But the biggest issue, according to residents, is the complete lack of traffic management. There are no traffic lights, no designated stops, and most importantly, no traffic personnel regulating the chaos. “Everyone does what they want,” says Pradip Bora, a local resident. “Buses stop in the middle of the road, people cross from anywhere, and autos park haphazardly. There’s no one to manage this madness.”
The bus stop confusion is a particularly frustrating issue for passengers heading towards Kalipur . Even though the stop is technically designated for these areas, it is far from convenient for the actual commuters. Many have to walk a considerable distance after getting off the bus. For elderly residents like 65-year-old Jiban Das, this is a major struggle. “Why call it a stop for Kalipur when I still have to walk so much? For older people like me, it’s really difficult. I can’t walk so far just because the buses won’t stop where they should,” he said to GPlus.
For some, the lack of proper bus stops has forced them to find alternative travel options. A commuter who works in the city but lives in Kalipur says the situation is so inconvenient that he now depends on bike taxis for his daily commute. “Buses don’t stop at Kalipur, nor do they provide a way for us to cross the road. I can’t walk all the way back from Kamakhya Gate every day, so I just take a bike taxi while returning home. There’s no proper system for us,” Debosmita Saikia said speaking to GPlus.
Traffic officials, however, blame a lack of manpower for their inability to regulate the area. Speaking to GPlus, a traffic official from the Jalukbari Police Station admitted that their presence is limited. “We try to be there when there’s a VIP visit, but manpower is less,” he said, offering little reassurance to the everyday struggles of commuters.
For the elderly, the situation is particularly dire. An 80-year-old woman shared her ordeal, highlighting how difficult it is for senior citizens to navigate the chaos. “Crossing the road is difficult for us. We can’t use the escalator or climb so many stairs to the overbridge. There’s no option for us but to wait and struggle,” she said in frustration.
Even bus operators, often blamed for stopping at random locations, have their own justification. A bus conductor, when asked about the lack of designated stops, simply shrugged. “What can we say? We are also bound to stop where people are waiting. If we don’t, passengers start shouting,” he explained.
Another bus driver shared a similar sentiment, saying they are forced to stop because of where people choose to stand. “People stand for buses here, so we have to stop. We can’t help it,” he admitted. When asked about Kalipur, he added, “There’s no proper stop there. If we don’t stop here, where will people get down?”
With no proper system in place, the area remains a hotspot of inconvenience. Residents and commuters have long been demanding solutions, including clearly marked bus stops, stricter traffic management, and better enforcement of pedestrian rules. But so far, their voices have gone unheard.
Kamakhya Gate area remains a torment for thousands. Until proper measures are taken, the chaos will continue, making life difficult for commuters, shopkeepers, and residents alike.
