New Traffic Routes Add to Guwahati's Traffic Snarls

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 9: The residents of the city are finding it difficult to adapt to the changes introduced by the Guwahati Traffic Police (GTP)in the matter of new commuting routes in Guwahati. The result being that the situation in the Paltan Bazar area, known for its traffic jams, has turned chaotic.

The route from Paltan Bazar traffic point via Paltan Bazar Police Station to Godhuli Bazar was changed from one-way road to a two-way road, while the route from Nepali Mandir via SAI Stadium to Godhuli Bazar continues to be a one-way road.

A resident of Paltan Bazar has said that life has become pathetic since the new routes have come into place.

Meanwhile, Amanjeet Kaur, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said, “Earlier, it took 10-15 minutes to reach Ulubari from Paltan Bazar. But, to reach AT Road from Ulubari, which is the same distance, it used to take over half an hour. We took the decision to make the road from Paltan Bazar to Ulubari two-way in order to equalize the pressure and congestion on both the roads.”

Many are of the view that city buses are the real cause of traffic snarls in the city with some even opining that the bus drivers do not follow the traffic rules. Under the new system buses and other big vehicles are allowed to commute from Ulubari to AT Road via Paltan Bazaar Police Station while small vehicles take the Nepali Mandir route.