Guwahati: Traffic woes taking heavy toll in city

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Imagine riding your bike through the bustling Hatigaon-Ganeshguri-GMCH stretch or navigating the congested Chandmari-Silpukhuri-Guwahati Club corridor during peak hours. As traffic grinds to a halt, you slam your brakes to dodge a pothole — a sharp pain shoots up your spine. There’s no time to stop or recover. You’re boxed in, surrounded by honking vehicles and unyielding traffic.

For thousands of Guwahati’s bikers, this scenario isn’t a rare occurrence — it’s a grueling, daily reality.

With roads pockmarked with potholes, incomplete flyovers adding to bottlenecks, and poorly managed traffic turning every commute into chaos, the city’s crumbling infrastructure has become a major source of physical and mental strain for commuters. “I ride to work every day, and I dread it,” says Ankita Sharma, a professional based in Ganeshguri. “The back pain, the constant stopping and starting — it’s exhausting. By the time I reach work, I’m already mentally tired.” Delivery agents, who crisscross the city daily, share an even grimmer picture. “The roads in Hatigaon are the worst,” one delivery worker said. “With the ongoing flyover construction at Chandmari, the traffic jams are unbearable. I have back pain every day. But I have no choice — this is my job.” He also highlighted the mental pressure that comes with his profession. “We work on tight deadlines. If we’re late, customers get angry — but how do we explain the state of the roads? It’s mentally draining. And bike maintenance costs have gone up too. We spend more now just to keep our vehicles running.” Guwahati’s rapid urban expansion has far outpaced its infrastructure development. New construction projects often stall, roads go unrepaired for months, and traffic management is patchy at best. What was once seen as a sign of progress is now a source of public frustration and growing health concerns.

“Smart city?” many residents scoff. “Even basic commutes feel like a punishment.”

Experts warn that poor road conditions not only damage vehicles but also pose serious health risks — from chronic back pain to increased stress levels. The lack of consistent maintenance and absence of safety measures is turning everyday travel into a test of endurance.  It’s a wake-up call for urban planners and authorities. If Guwahati’s development is to be truly ‘smart,’ it must begin by making its roads safer, smoother, and commuter-friendly. Until then, every pothole remains a hazard — and every commute, a crisis waiting to happen.

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