Power pole lying abandoned for years at NH-37 near Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 29: Visibly, the speculation as well as the expectations on the Smart City Mission was quite high, as Guwahati was one of the cities listed for this Government of India’s ambitious project. However, with the days passing on, these preconceived dreams are fading from the minds of residents of Guwahati city. Reason is quite obvious; indifferent attitude of the line agencies, lack of mass participation and the like.

Under such a bleak scenario, displaying the acute negligence of the Public Work Department (PWD), one of the street light utility poles owned by the PWD has cracked and has been left abandoned at Tripura Road connecting National Highway- 37. The pole, erected on the divider of the road has been leaning at a precarious angle almost touching the earth which may cause severe road mishap, especially during the night. Notably, during the night, the Tripura Road is usually congested by plying of commercial trucks besides the regular city vehicles. Under this given situation, anyone can speculate the possible danger. Nevertheless, the pole has been lying there unnoticed for years, and the PWD department is yet to wake up either to replace the pole or to remove it from the spot.