Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A deadly Monday night crash on the Maharaj Prithu Flyover has exposed dangerous flaws in Guwahati’s newest infrastructure. Parimal Medhi died when his motorcycle collided with a scooter on the wet, slippery road. Police are currently investigating the incident.
The Rs 850-crore project has faced criticism since its March inauguration. Commuters and local residents claim the pavement loses traction during rainfall. This was not a one-off event. A recent collision involving Gauhati High Court advocate Santanu Borthakur also occurred on the same slick surface.
Critics point to the project timeline as a potential cause for poor quality. Gautam Constructions and Anupam Constructions finished the 4.2-km bridge in just 28 months. Locals argue this rush compromised safety to push a government narrative. A retired Public Works Department engineer noted that the heavy financial investment should have produced a better junction.
The Chandmari rotary remains a major headache. It relies entirely on manual traffic control, which creates constant bottlenecks. Traffic officers stationed at the junction handle heavy duty without basic amenities like shelters or toilets. One officer stated: "The need for continuous manual intervention points directly to shortcomings in the junction’s planning."
The Public Works Department defends the construction. They claim the flyover followed the original project plan and blame rising vehicle numbers for current congestion. Residents disagree and are demanding an independent review of the road surface, drainage, and safety features.
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