Is Metro a priority?

Much is being talked about the proposed ‘Rail-based Mass Rapid Transport System’ – popularly referred to as Metro Rail – in Guwahati since then Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on February 29, 2016, laid the foundation stone for the Guwahati Metro Railway project. Even before that, the Gogoi government had also constituted the Guwahati Metro Rail Corporation Ltd in February that year. The basic intention of this proposed project is to ease the transportation system of the Northeast region’s largest city with a futuristic approach, so that it does not land up in chaos when the number of residents and number of vehicles reach a particular level. But then, while a lot of water has flowed down the Brahmaputra in the past three years or more, nothing has moved forward in respect to the proposed ambitious project.

This has become evident from what Guwahati Development Department (GDD) minister Siddhartha Bhattacharyya told this newspaper, which appeared on the front page on Thursday. Bhattacharyya incidentally also represents Guwahati East, the most urban Assembly constituency of the State. According to the minister, the government is yet to take a decision on the financing aspect of Metro Railway. The only development that has taken place so far is that RITES Limited – a Central government engineering consultancy company specializing in the field of transport infrastructure – has demonstrated three different models to the Government of Assam, from which the latter can choose the one which it considers fit for Guwahati.

RITES has also identified four corridors for the MRTS in Guwahati. The latest positive development is that the Guwahati Development Department is in the process of preparing a cabinet note which among other things will also cover the financial aspects of the proposed Metro Railway. According to minister Bhattacharyya, the GDD is likely to propose roping in Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the company that has been dragging the multi-crore ambitious Guwahati water supply project for so many years, ADB and World Bank for the purpose. What however is the immediate requirement for Guwahati in terms of transportation is clearing certain major traffic points of the city, so that the movement of vehicles becomes smooth and free of any traffic jam. Though the GDD does not necessarily look at roads, the department and the State government can – and should – press the NHAI to immediately sanction funds for construction of a number of flyovers on the Khanapara-Jalukbari by-pass.

Likewise, the GDD, along with the PWD and Transport Department, review the ground reality of the flyover at Six-Mile and find out the culprits who could not foresee on which route the traffic volume was more. What GDD minister Bhattacharyya should also do urgently is to take up with his colleague holding the PWD portfolio and widen some of the arterial roads of the city, so that the traffic flow becomes smooth and unhindered. The Nirmalprabha Bardoloi Road connecting RG Barua Road and VIP Road, which has suddenly become important in view of ongoing construction of a flyover on RG Barua Road near Ganeshguri, is one such arterial road that should be immediately widened by at least five feet on both sides. The Ganeshguri-GMC Road running parallel to the GS Road also requires drastic widening with a futuristic approach.

There will be several such roads that require urgent widening, because Guwahati being one of the fastest-growing cities of the country cannot afford to remain frozen in time in terms of roads. So is the case with drains and the several rivers and streams in the city. All the major drains, rivers and streams need to be widened so that their water-carrying capacity is enhanced. Funds should not be a hindrance, provided the government, and more particularly the GDD minister, musters up some will and courage. The minister should remind himself of how a deputy commissioner had about three decades ago widened the Gandhibasti road approach in Silpukhuri area of the city just by deciding to do so. Let the Metro Rail project take its own time. In the meantime, the GDD minister should wake up to reality and do justice to the City of Eastern Lights.