GUWAHATI: Despite the availability of designated accommodation camps set up by the district administration for Ambubachi Mela pilgrims, a large number of devotees continue to occupy public spaces across the Bhootnath area, including road dividers, flyovers, roadsides and footbridges, raising concerns over crowd management, public safety and sanitation.
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The situation has led to growing inconvenience for local residents and commuters, who have reported traffic congestion, littering and safety risks in the area. Speaking to GPlus, a daily commuter said the heavy presence of devotees on public spaces has worsened road conditions and traffic flow, adding that the accumulation of waste could continue to affect the locality even after the mela concludes.
Another local resident highlighted concerns over the distribution of bhandara along busy roads, stating that large crowds gathering for meals often obstruct traffic and increase the risk of accidents. The resident also noted that many devotees are seen walking on the roads, further adding to safety concerns.
The development comes despite the Kamrup (Metro) district administration announcing dedicated accommodation facilities for pilgrims ahead of the mela. Addressing the media on June 18, Deputy Commissioner Swapneel Paul said two camps had been established, one behind Kamakhya Railway Station and another at Pandu Port, with provisions for bedding, toilets, sanitation services and community meals.
To ease movement between the camps, ASTC buses have been deployed, while Pandu College has been identified as a contingency site that can be converted into a third camp if the existing facilities reach capacity.
However, with many devotees continuing to stay in open public spaces, questions are being raised about the utilisation of the designated camps and whether additional measures are needed to encourage pilgrims to use the facilities provided by the administration.