GUWAHATI: GMC Hostel Road, near the Guwahati Baptist Church graveyard, has turned into an obstacle course for pedestrians, with the footpath buried under construction debris, mud, and garbage.
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Photographs from the stretch show heaps of broken concrete, stones, and rubble piled along the roadside, forcing residents to walk on the busy carriageway shared with autorickshaws, scooters, and other vehicles.
A local resident said “This street sees traffic issues very often, especially during the afternoon when all the school and college students are walking home.” With the current condition of the footpaths, they have to walk on the busy street, he said.
An abandoned, rusting delivery van parked against a moss-covered boundary wall further narrows the already encroached path, while scattered plastic waste and loose dirt make the area unsafe, especially during the rains. Electric and telecom cables hang loosely from a nearby pole, adding to the area's neglected appearance.
When contacted, the local ward councillor said repeated efforts to repair the footpath have gone to waste. "We clear up the sides of the road but waste and debris appear again” the councillor said, expressing frustration over the recurring damage despite civic intervention.
Another official, however, placed the blame elsewhere, asserting that the debris piled on the footpath was not the result of any government construction work but had been dumped by residents living in the vicinity.
The conflicting claims have left the matter unresolved, with no clear timeline for clearing the debris or restoring the footpath. Meanwhile, pedestrians, including students and the elderly, continue to navigate the cluttered stretch daily, raising concerns over safety and civic accountability in the area.