Lack of proper streetlights creates problems for citizens in Guwahati

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Guwahati is the largest city in the Northeast and has a population larger than many other cities in the country, but it still lacks some of the very basic necessities to be called a developed city. One of the main constraints in that direction is the lack of proper streetlights in several parts of the city. Even the lights on the major roads of the city, like the GS Road and the AT Road, remain dysfunctional at multiple points.

A large number of localities in the city completely lack any streetlights, while many other localities lie in a dysfunctional or improperly functioning state, causing a lot of problems for the people of the city. The lack of proper illumination makes the locality susceptible to antisocial activities, especially after dusk.

A female resident of the Hatigaon region mentioned,” It is very risky to travel at night because of the lack of any lighting. Whenever we go out at night or return from somewhere, we are in constant fear of being followed, mugged, or even worse. With the crime rate rising in the city, the lack of streetlights only encourages the antisocial elements to be more active in these areas. We want to tell the GMC to give proper weightage to this problem and ensure that it is taken care of.” But being the target of thieves is not the only problem arising from the lack of streetlights in the city. With construction going on at several places, a large number of walkways are not in proper condition. While some drains have their manholes removed, others have rods and other items sticking out. The lack of proper lighting makes walking on these roads a life-threatening risk.

A senior citizen said, “Improper lighting of the streets makes life much more difficult for us seniors. With the large number of vehicles plying at high speeds, we are forced to take the footpaths, and the uneven work done on these footpaths increases the risk of us falling over.

This problem increases further during the rains; these places become slippery, making it more difficult for us to walk.” Uneven construction, open manholes, and garbage dumped on the footpaths at several locations across the city only increase the problems for pedestrians due to the lack of proper streetlights.

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