Assam: Guwahati residents seek resuming city bus services on closed road

Guwahati : The residents of Guwahati recently submitted a memorandum to the Assam government formally requesting the resumption of city bus services on the closed road section of Bhutnath and Machkhowa.

The road from Bhutnath to Machkhowa had been closed for plying of public buses since the beginning of construction of the elevated approach road for the Guwahati-North Guwahati Brahmaputra Bridge.

In a memorandum addressed to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Citizen Coordination Committee of Guwahati has formally requested the resumption of limited city bus operations on the closed road section.

The elevated corridor, opened on March 5, 2024, has led to the closure of city bus stations at Shantipur, Bharalumukh, and Machkhowa.

This closure has caused significant inconvenience to local residents.

It has also affected students and staff of nearby educational institutions such as Pragjyotish College, Radha Govind Barua College, Kamakhyaram Barua Girls College, Sonaram Higher Secondary School, and Kaliram Barua Higher Secondary School.

The committee has highlighted two main appeals in the memorandum.

Firstly, the committee requests the reopening of the road section from Bhutnath to Machkhowa on the Assam Trunk Road.

Secondly, they urge the reinstatement of city bus services to the previously served stations, as outlined in the Transport Department’s press release dated August 1, 2024, which mentioned the inclusion of buses from Jalukbari, Adabari, and Maligaon.

The memorandum seeks a practical and sustainable solution to the traffic and transportation issues faced by the residents.

Copies of the memorandum have been sent to the District Commissioner of Kamrup (Metropolitan), the Chairman of the Regional Transport Authority, and the Commissioner of Police for their consideration.

The Citizen Coordination Committee, led by President Khanindra Lal Sharma and conveners Abdul Ahad, Avinash Sharma, and Samiksha Das, emphasized the urgency of addressing these transportation challenges to improve the daily lives of the affected residents.