GUWAHATI, Jan 18 � Voluntary organisation Save Guwahati Build Guwahati (SGBG) has called for steps to hold the Republic Day and Independence Day functions at the Sarusajai National Games Stadium in the days to come. The Government should desist from using the Latasil playground, Judges� Field and the Veterinary College ground for the purpose.
SGBG president Dhiren Barua told this newspaper that if the venue of the celebrations is shifted to the National Games Stadium, this will provide a bigger and permanent venue for the celebrations with readymade infrastructure like it is done in the Red Fort.
Moreover, the last remnants of the playgrounds within the densely-populated areas of the city will also be saved, and the traffic and security-related woes in the core area of the city, before and during the celebrations, could also be done away with by this measure, Barua said.
The city is exposed to growing traffic and security-related problems before and during such celebrations held inside its densely populated areas. This situation demands an urgent remedy, Barua said.
If the Government wants to instill confidence among the Guwahatians to celebrate the Republic Day and Independence Day, it should rather encourage them to hold community functions in their respective localities to celebrate these days of national importance. It should not insist on holding the official celebrations of these days within the congested city areas, he said.
To turn the National Games Stadium venue into a popular one for the purpose, Barua suggested that the Government should ensure public transport services between Sarusajai and various important points of the city with wide publicity. This will facilitate large participation of the people in the celebrations at this venue, Barua said.
