The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) is set to construct permanent traffic islands at Ganeshguri, following the recent approval of the junction redesign plan by local authorities. The initiative aims to enhance pedestrian safety in the area. A similar plan is envisioned for Paltan Bazar; however, the construction of a foot overbridge (FOB) near Paltan Bazar Police Station presents significant design challenges for planners trying to integrate traffic islands.
A GMC source revealed that efforts from the town and country planning department to redesign Paltan Bazar have been hampered by the unplanned FOB construction. The bridge’s current location, near the Paltan Bazar railway station entrance, could pose difficulties for passengers with heavy luggage and might necessitate further climbs inside the station. It’s noted that this infrastructure should have been planned collaboratively with the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), particularly as NFR is considering redeveloping parts of the Paltan Bazar railway station.
Another source from NFR confirmed that no consultation occurred with state authorities about the FOB at Paltan Bazar, underscoring the problematic nature of the current plans.
According to a town and country planning department source, the pedestrian volume in Paltan Bazar exceeds that of vehicles, necessitating a well-thought-out design. The existing FOB is criticized for its unplanned nature and for reducing road width, complicating traffic island planning and overall area redesign.
In defense of the FOB, a Public Works Department (PWD) source mentioned that the bridge was constructed after numerous requests from traffic police to alleviate persistent traffic jams caused by pedestrians crossing the road. They maintain that the FOB will prove beneficial in the future.
Separately, the Guwahati railway station has been earmarked for redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The plan includes a new entry from Paltan Bazar, requiring the acquisition of ASTC bus stand land. An MoU with the state government has been signed, and land exchange agreements are in place, pending the resolution of 27 ongoing court cases at Jalukbari.
