STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: After months of inaction, the Public Works Department (PWD) (Roads) has finally launched a long-overdue crackdown on illegal unipole hoardings that have been defacing Guwahati’s streets and endangering public safety.
The move comes in the wake of widespread public outrage which revealed the unchecked proliferation of unauthorized hoardings across the city. These towering steel structures — many outfitted with glaring LED lights — had been erected without official clearance on central medians, footpaths, and near busy intersections, posing serious safety and aesthetic concerns.
Despite repeated warnings and complaints, the PWD ® had until recently remained a silent spectator. The tipping point arrived on May 10, when a powerful thunderstorm lashed the city, toppling several of these illegally installed hoardings. Twisted metal debris was left strewn across roads, paralysing traffic and stranding hundreds of commuters amid the storm — a wake-up call that could no longer be ignored.
Now under pressure, the PWD-R has begun issuing formal notices for the removal of these structures. Notices, signed by the Assistant Executive Engineer of the Dispur Territorial Road Sub-Division-2, have been visibly affixed on multiple hoardings around the city. The department has officially acknowledged that these installations are unauthorised and has warned violators of impending legal action and monetary penalties.
While this crackdown marks a significant step forward, thousands of such illegal hoardings still clutter Guwahati’s skyline — a stark reminder of years of regulatory oversight and unchecked commercial encroachment. Whether this current campaign translates into lasting reform remains to be seen.
Also read: Guwahati: Dumper truck crashes into hoarding pole
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