Where one is lost for words!

Downtown-Chachal Road

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI, Nov 6: One will certainly be lost for words to describe the condition of Downtown-Chachal road, barely a km from Dispur! The road remains mucky even when there is no rain for a month or so.

Residents of the Downtown-Chachal area in the city say that condition of roads is one of the criteria that have much to do with development index of a place, area, district or State. The condition of the road speaks volumes of development of the area and the city, they say. “We did repose a lot of trust in the new BJP-led government at Dispur when it came to power.  However, there has been no tangible change on the condition of roads in most of the areas in the city. We don’t know as to why the new regime at Dispur is letting us down?” One of the local residents of the area questioned.

“The condition of the road is beyond description. People in the area can’t even go out with their own cars. The road remains mucky throughout the year even when there’s no rain,” another resident of the area said, and added: “We look like discarded ones in society. Even rickshaw-pullers reject us when we request them to go to and from our area. When they agree, they have no way out but to charge double fare. They’ve reasons to make such claims as they’ve to break sweat to do that. How can we pay through our nose every now and then? Now we don’t feel like lodging complaints with the department concerned anymore. We’ve been tired out.”

Abani Dutta, another local resident, said: “In the run-up to every election the government comes with some fake promises. However, after coming to power they forget everything. We need to think twice before going for outing with family as we can’t go with own vehicles because of the road condition. There’s another road in the rear side. Its condition is no better either. Another problem which we’ve to face due to lack of civic sense is garbage. The road has small shops on either of its side. The drains are choked. Litterlouts often do the mischief.  How long can we stay like this? The road is not even fit for plying of ambulance on it.”