Editorial

Letters to the Editor: Flyover at Baihata Chariali raises concerns

Our attention has been drawn to a news report published today (May 14), which highlights serious issues concerning the under-construction flyover at Baihata Chariali.

Sentinel Digital Desk

Flyover at Baihata Chariali raises concerns

Our attention has been drawn to a news report published today (May 14), which highlights serious issues concerning the under-construction flyover at Baihata Chariali. The accompanying photograph speaks volumes — and as the saying goes, pictures don’t lie.

Though the flyover has not yet been opened for public use, alarming signs of structural compromise are already visible. Large holes have appeared on its road surface, indicating poor workmanship and a clear lack of proper oversight by the responsible authorities during the construction phase. This is not an isolated incident — similar issues plague the construction of roads, bridges, water pipelines, and public buildings across the state. The question naturally arises: who can assure the public that this flyover, once operational, will not collapse? India has witnessed several such tragedies in recent years. In Bihar alone, 17 bridges have collapsed within a short span. West Bengal too has seen the collapse of flyovers, with devastating consequences.

Assam, a state with limited financial resources, cannot afford to waste public funds on substandard infrastructure. This is not merely an administrative lapse; it is a betrayal of public trust and, arguably, a criminal negligence that puts lives at risk.

We urge the government to conduct a thorough investigation and take stringent action against those responsible. Accountability must be ensured — not only to prevent further wastage of resources but also to safeguard public safety and restore faith in the institutions responsible for building our state’s future.

Prafulla Dowarah

Guwahati

Ceasefire musings

The reported US-brokered ceasefire between India and Pakistan, though tenuous, has come as a huge relief for the citizens of both nations, as peace is the ultimate desire of all human beings, irrespective of nationality and religion. It is a welcome development that the US President intervened proactively to prevent the two nuclear-capable nations from escalating the conflict to a point of no return. It is not known what prompted the powerful President to stop the two warring nations, as the same person is unable to enforce a ceasefire for two violently raging wars in Ukraine and Gaza. While the former is in its third year with no clear winner in sight, the latter, almost 2 years old, has turned bloodier with each passing day. The obdurate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hell-bent on the complete destruction of the tiny Palestinian enclave of Gaza. Not to mention the scale of physical devastation wrought by these two mindless wars, the traumatic experience of innocent and helpless victims like children and women has never moved the US government to induce a sense of extreme urgency to engage in genuine diplomacy to bring to an end the two festering wars. Standards for restoration of peace in conflict zones through mediation should be applied uniformly for all nations, and the minimum expectation from the US government is to promote peace and prosperity by enforcing the rule of law across the globe and empowering UN bodies.

Rajib Sarma

Guwahati

Dedicated vending zones possible?

On one hand, there is a market fee waiver decision by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) for women vendors belonging to S/C and S/T operating in the city's GMC-leased markets, but, on the other hand, surprisingly, there is no action to solve the persisting problems of street vendors, who, due to lack of dedicated vending zones, are not only occupying the footpaths and blocking the free movement of the passers-by but also creating a situation which is really an eyesore for everyone every day. With the increase in the microcredit loan disbursement under the centrally sponsored PMSVA Nidhi, there is an alarming rise in the number of street vendors in the city. Supporting their livelihood in the form of affordable working capital loans is appreciable, but occupying spaces on pavements and roads illegally due to the absence of dedicated zones is unbearable. Here the question arises: who are the worst sufferers on this count? The answer is common pedestrians. But how long will the growing city like Guwahati ignore the problems faced by the road users daily? It is a million-dollar question. The editorial on May 14 of your esteemed daily, 'An urgent priority in Guwahati planning', has rightly pinpointed that when land availability is not an issue for large projects by the state government, then why is the establishment of a dedicated vending zone for the street vendors a difficult task for the GMC? Enough is enough. What one feels is that the GMC has to take the lead in resolving the burning issue, and therefore, it should coordinate with all relevant departments and more particularly city residents, who are the primary stakeholders of street vending. A brainstorming consultation process must take place with all four identified vending zones, alternative sites or retrofitting solutions across the city. It may be a challenging one, but it is an urgent need of the hour, as the city dwellers are completely tired of seeing the same state of affairs for the last couple of years. It is absolutely true that street vending has been a critical component of a bustling city, especially in a densely populated urban landscape like Guwahati. Let us all come forward and relook at the issue from the perspective of new challenges of urban planning and cooperate with GMC authorities to overcome space constraints. The sooner the issue of street vendors is resolved, the better it is for the city residents to lead a dignified life in the city.

Iqbal Saikia,

Guwahati