STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: With ambulances, fire tenders and other emergency response vehicles frequently caught in Guwahati's traffic congestion, concerned citizens urged the Assam government to identify and develop suitable spaces beneath major flyovers as dedicated emergency vehicle parking and rapid-response zones.
The proposal came at a time when the State government was planning to establish integrated vertical gardens across 20 major flyovers and corridors in Guwahati as part of efforts to strengthen the city's green infrastructure.
Welcoming the government's move, the citizens submitted an appeal seeking that available spaces beneath suitable flyovers be planned not only for beautification but also for critical public-safety infrastructure. They said dedicated parking and deployment points for ambulances, fire and emergency service vehicles, disaster response units and police vehicles could help reduce response time during medical emergencies, road accidents, fires, floods and other disasters.
"With the rapid growth of traffic and frequent congestion, ambulances, fire service vehicles, disaster response units and police emergency vehicles often face difficulties in finding suitable locations for temporary parking or rapid deployment," the appeal stated.
According to the citizens, the proposed emergency vehicle spaces should be equipped with adequate lighting, CCTV surveillance, prominent signage, proper access roads and security arrangements to ensure uninterrupted movement of emergency vehicles.
The citizens also called for a feasibility assessment by the concerned departments to determine which flyovers could accommodate such facilities without affecting traffic movement or other existing infrastructure. They argued that the initiative could serve a dual purpose by putting otherwise underutilised spaces beneath flyovers to productive use while strengthening the city's emergency preparedness. The appeal urged the government to direct the concerned departments to examine the feasibility of establishing dedicated emergency vehicle parking facilities beneath suitable flyovers across Guwahati in the interest of public safety and faster emergency response.
Also Read: ‘Smart City’ flyovers become easy ground for illegal vending in Guwahati