Staff reporter
Guwahati: As Guwahati steadily transforms into a modern metropolitan hub with a vibrant and fast-expanding nightlife, a glaring gap in civic preparedness is drawing increasing concern, the near-total absence of night-time traffic policing. With bars, clubs, restaurants, and shopping outlets now operating well past midnight, especially in high-activity zones like GS Road, Six Mile, Dispur, Beltola, and Khanapara, the city’s infrastructure for traffic regulation seems unable or unwilling to keep pace.
While Assam’s capital buzzes with urban energy into the early hours, its roads tell a different story after 10 pm. Most traffic intersections are left unmanned, and signal systems either shift to blinking caution lights or cease functioning altogether, leaving motorists to navigate key junctions based on guesswork. The result? A perceived “traffic law vacuum” that’s putting lives at risk.
“From Monday to Thursday, you hardly see any traffic presence at night, and even on weekends, police checks are mostly limited to select zones or drunk driving patrols. There’s no consistent enforcement,” said Arup Deka, a late-night delivery executive. “With more young people going out at night and vehicle numbers rising, it’s only a matter of time before major accidents become more frequent.”
Guwahati’s growth into a metro city has been rapid. With increased disposable incomes, a booming hospitality sector, and urban beautification drives under Smart City initiatives, the city now boasts a nightlife ecosystem comparable to Tier-1 cities. But unlike metro counterparts such as Bengaluru, Pune, or Hyderabad, Guwahati continues to follow a “day-shift” model of traffic enforcement, with little to no real-time monitoring after business hours.
Even the much-hyped Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), which was supposed to revolutionize traffic monitoring through adaptive signals, AI-powered surveillance, and automated challans, fails to function optimally during late hours. Residents report that many of the cameras and signals at key intersections like Bhetapara, Panjabari, and Jayanagar either go inactive or switch to static caution mode, reducing their effectiveness during high-risk hours.
The only visible traffic presence after 10 pm comes in the form of sporadic drunk-driving checks that is mostly on Friday and Saturday nights. But beyond these checkpoints, vast stretches of the city remain unregulated. Over-speeding, signal jumping, and reckless driving are commonplace on empty roads, particularly by two-wheeler and cab drivers returning from nightlife hotspots.
“The roads look empty, but they are more dangerous than peak-hour traffic. People drive like they’re on a race track because there’s no fear of being stopped, fined, or caught on camera,” said a resident of Ganeshguri.
Urban safety experts and civic planners are unanimous in their call for round-the-clock traffic regulation, citing that traffic control should be demand-based, not time-bound. As Guwahati positions itself as an investment and tourism destination, the absence of consistent safety mechanisms threatens both its image and its residents.
“You can’t have a 24/7 economy with 9-to-5 policing,” remarked an urban governance consultant. “If you want people to dine, shop, and party at night, you must ensure their safe passage home. Otherwise, it’s a policy failure waiting to snowball.”
Citizens are now urging the Assam government and Guwahati Traffic Police to reassess their priorities. They demand expanded night patrol teams, functional ITMS support during late hours, and a shift toward intelligent, real-time traffic management.
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