Guwahati's Maharaja Prithu Flyover Sparks Commuter Backlash Over Traffic Jams
Just days after its grand inauguration, the Maharaja Prithu flyover in Guwahati is already facing significant criticism from daily commuters. The primary issue centers around persistent and severe congestion at the rotary that links this new infrastructure to the existing Ananda Ram Barua flyover. This bottleneck is reportedly undermining the very purpose of the project, which was designed to alleviate traffic woes across key parts of the city.
Promised Relief Turns Into a New Problem
The more than 5-kilometer stretch, billed as one of the longest flyovers in Guwahati, was expected to streamline traffic movement and reduce travel times. Instead, the rotary has emerged as a major choke point, with commuters reporting long queues and painfully slow-moving traffic, particularly during the evening peak hours. Many express frustration that the congestion has merely shifted rather than been resolved.
"It was supposed to reduce congestion, but now it feels like traffic has simply shifted and piled up at one point," said Pradyumna Dutta, a regular traveler between Chandmari and Zoo Road. His sentiment is echoed by numerous other users who anticipated a smoother commute.
Commuters Detail Specific Issues
Several commuters have pointed to poor lane discipline at the junction as a key factor worsening the situation. Hrishabh Saikia, a local resident, shared his experience: "At first, we thought the journey along this stretch would take only five minutes, but we are now realizing that it takes more than 30 minutes during peak hours when travelling from Lamb Road towards Noonmati. If this continues, the earlier way was much better."
Many allege that the rotary's design and current traffic management strategies have failed to handle the increased volume of vehicles now diverted onto the new flyover. This influx is partly due to drivers seeking alternatives to avoid congestion on other routes like GS Road.
Official Response and Measures
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shafiqul Hussain acknowledged the problem, attributing it to the sudden surge in traffic flow. "This is the result of the increased traffic flow, as people have stopped using GS Road and are instead taking the new flyover when traveling to the Paltan Bazar area," he explained. "This is happening for two reasons — first, to avoid traffic congestion on GS Road, and second, due to people’s interest in driving over the new bridge."
In response, authorities have increased the number of traffic personnel at the site to help regulate and channelize the flow more effectively. Hussain expressed optimism that congestion would ease in the coming weeks as adjustments are made and commuters adapt to the new traffic patterns.
The situation highlights the challenges of urban infrastructure projects in rapidly growing cities, where initial teething problems can overshadow long-term benefits. Residents and officials alike are hopeful that with continued monitoring and strategic interventions, the Maharaja Prithu flyover will eventually fulfill its promise of smoother commutes for Guwahati.
