GUWAHATI, Oct 3 - Urging the State Government to plan long-term measures for solving the problem of traffic congestion in the city, the Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) today said that the government must reopen the existing roads, closed due to various reasons, and find alternative routes to ease traffic snarls.
The NGO also rapped the Guwahati traffic police for creating a chaotic situation in the city by making several roads one-way with effect from Monday.
Addressing the media here, former SGBG president and public activist Dhiren Baruah said that along with the population, the number of cars has also increased manifold in Guwahati and in the absence of a proper regulation mechanism, the congestion is turning more chaotic day by day.
�A practical and well thought out plan is necessary to control the situation as the quick-fix measures might turn more disastrous for both commuters and the administration. Earlier also, we had given several representations to the State government, including the recommendations by renowned expert in road and management of traffic, Dr Padma Bora,� he added.
SGBG acting president Krishna K Barua advocated smart policing and bringing to book rule violators, so that others are discouraged to break traffic rules.
Social activist Ajay Dutta stated that as Guwahati is under several authorities including the GDD, GMC, GMDA, PHE, PWD and even Jal Board, the problems of the city are nobody�s concern now. �The issue of road is also connected to the problem of footpath encroachment, lack of garages to park vehicles at night, lack of parking space, etc. Popularity of cabs like Ola and Uber has made travelling convenient for people, but there should also be a proper mechanism to park these vehicles at night,� Dutta said.
Senior advocate Satyen Deka rued the fact that while making sudden traffic arrangements, the police do not take the public into confidence.
�The horrible traffic arrangements done today highlight the lack of knowledge regarding Guwahati city on the part of the authorities concerned. It not only resulted in massive traffic chaos in the entire city today, it also caused immense suffering to the common people, particularly school students and their parents,� he said.
�Those travelling by public transport, specially taking cabs, autorickshaws, etc, had to pay exorbitantly as they had to take longer routes today,� he added.
The organisation�s general secretary Kailash Sarma sought the help and cooperation from all components of society to maintain a smooth flow of traffic on the roads of Guwahati.
