Guwahati: With potholes and damaged stretches continuing to trouble commuters across Guwahati, student organisations have warned of renewed public protests if immediate steps are not taken to restore the city’s roads.
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has called for prompt intervention by the state Public Works Department (PWD), arguing that delays in repairing minor road damage can eventually turn potholes into larger and more dangerous craters.
Several roads across greater Guwahati have developed potholes and damaged sections following the monsoon, creating difficulties for motorists, pedestrians and daily commuters. Student representatives have also raised concerns over the condition of roads and bylanes in different parts of the city.
Speaking to The Sentinel, All Guwahati Students’ Union (AGSU) general secretary Pranjal Deka said the organisation had recently protested against the condition of roads in Guwahati and other parts of Assam, including national highways. According to Deka, despite repeated appeals for urgent repairs, improvement has been limited to a few stretches.
Deka said that apart from relatively better-maintained stretches such as GS Road and RG Baruah Road, several other roads in the city continue to have potholes at different locations. He also pointed to the condition of the city’s bylanes, saying residents have been facing difficulties because of deteriorating road surfaces.
The student leader questioned whether the PWD was responding adequately to the road problems faced by residents and commuters. He argued that regular inspection and timely maintenance could prevent smaller defects from developing into major road hazards.
According to Deka, Guwahati’s importance as a major urban centre and gateway to the Northeast makes proper maintenance of both major roads and residential bylanes particularly important. He also criticised what he described as a pattern in which road repair work gains attention primarily after public protests.
The student body has now warned that it could once again approach the streets with public support if damaged roads across Guwahati are not repaired before Durga Puja.
The proposed protest threat comes as the city prepares for the festive season, when traffic volumes and movement of people are expected to increase considerably. Student organisations have urged the authorities to undertake necessary repairs before the festival to reduce inconvenience and potential risks for commuters.
