Lack of streetlights plague VIP Road in Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Most people passing through the VIP Road here nowadays after dusk, especially pedestrians and cyclists, feel a shiver of trepidation as around 250 to 300 streetlights on the road are non-functional and negotiating the 11 km stretch in the darkness is a risky business.

Although the VIP Road is an important road in the city as it connects Six Mile with Narengi and has a number of community halls, hospitals, marriage halls besides residential blocks, the area is submerged in darkness at night in absence of streetlights. The 11 km road has streetlights at 20-metre intervals, but none of them works.

According to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Act, 1971, the installation and maintenance of these streetlights are supposed to be done by the civic body. Later, the Public Works Department (PWD) also took responsibility for the work.

Lack of proper monitoring and absence of staff to take care of issues related to streetlighting are considered to be the main causes of the darkness that engulfs the street after sunset.

The main fear of passers-by, especially women, is that of anti-social elements. Moreover, there are several instances of accidents occurring on the road due to lack of a proper street-lighting system.

Local resident Rontu Neog said: "It has been a problem for us since a long time. We, as women, are more concerned of our safety as sometimes we get late coming from work. Without streetlights, we feel jittery and unsafe to walk on the footpath."

Another resident, Sangeta Baruah, said: "The authorities concerned should work on maintaining these streetlights. Guwahati cannot become a smart city until safety and security is ensured."

Yet another local resident, Debojit Dutta, said: "Whenever a festival or an event is hosted here, the road is adorned with lights and decorations. Unfortunately, the street plunges into darkness after the event is over."

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