The closure of the Garchuk–Pamohi bridge has disrupted travel, trade and access for months
The bridge connecting Garchuk and Pamohi has remained shut to vehicular traffic for the past three to four months, crippling movement along a key transport corridor and leaving residents, commuters and traders facing persistent disruption. With renovation and repair work yet to begin, there is little indication that the bridge will reopen in the near future.
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The prolonged closure of the bridge on the Garchuk–Pamohi road has severely disrupted movement along a key transport corridor, reducing access across the stretch to a narrow passage that can only be used by pedestrians and two-wheelers with caution. All four-wheelers, including private vehicles, commercial transport and emergency service vehicles, have been forced to take alternative routes, adding time and cost to everyday travel.
With the bridge out of service, motorists have been diverted through Ahom Gaon and Moinakhurung, a detour that residents say has significantly increased travel expenses, fuel consumption and commuting time.
The disruption has also affected commercial activity in the area, particularly among small traders and shop owners who depend on regular traffic movement. Reduced accessibility has impacted both customer footfall and the movement of goods, resulting in losses for businesses operating along the route.
The road serves as an important link to the Pamohi wholesale vegetable market, considered the largest in Guwahati, and provides access to the Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary. It also functions as an alternative route to Guwahati Airport.
“For nearly six months, the bridge on this main road has remained closed, causing significant inconvenience for local residents. Large vehicles can no longer use the route, and no alternative arrangement has been provided. Motorcyclists continue to cross through a narrow opening, putting their safety at risk. We have not seen the Public Works Department (PWD) carry out the work with the urgency the situation demands,” Rajlakshmi Das, a resident of Pamohi and a postgraduate student, told GPlus.
Das also pointed to the newly constructed Bailey bridge adjacent to the damaged structure, stating that it remains unavailable for regular vehicular movement despite being built as a temporary alternative during the repair period.
“Four-wheelers taking a detour also increases fuel consumption,” she said, urging the authorities to take up the repair work on priority.
Local businesses say the bridge closure has taken a significant toll on economic activity in the area.
Biswajit Sarma, a shop owner in the locality, said traders and locals have been struggling with the consequences of the disruption for months.
“This road has remained closed for the past three to four months, and even the bridge constructed as an interim arrangement is not open for regular use. The disruption has affected our day-to-day business operations, while commuters, particularly school and college students continue to face considerable difficulties,” Sarma told GPlus.
He said the contractor and the chief engineer had visited the site four to five days ago, but residents were not informed about the department’s plans.
“We have been informed that the damaged bridge is likely to be reconstructed, but there has been little clarity regarding the actual plans or timeline for the project,” Sarma added.
Locals also claimed that the bailey bridge was opened for a brief period for pedestrians and small vehicles before being closed again, reportedly following objections linked to the land through which access had been provided.
Speaking to GPlus, a woman accompanying her school-going child said the bridge closure has significantly disrupted daily commuting, increasing both travel time and expenses for families.
“Since the bridge was closed, commuting has become much more difficult. Earlier, we could travel directly from Garchuk Point by e-rickshaw. Now, we have to change vehicles midway and board another e-rickshaw to take our children to and from school,” she said.
She added that the additional transfers often result in delays, causing students and parents to reach school late. Calling for the work to be completed at the earliest, she urged the authorities to address the hardships faced by commuters and local residents.
Auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers say the closure has also affected their livelihoods. One auto-rickshaw driver told GPlus that passenger numbers along the route have declined sharply since the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic.
Another e-rickshaw driver reported a similar impact, saying the reduction in commuter movement had directly affected earnings.
“Apart from the bridge, the roads in this area are also in poor condition. Waterlogging occurs whenever it rains, making travel difficult,” the e-rickshaw driver said, adding that he hoped the issues would be addressed soon.
A school student also spoke about the difficulties caused by the prolonged closure.
“This bridge should be repaired as soon as possible. We have to get down before the bridge, cross it on foot, and then take another vehicle on the other side to reach home. The same process has to be repeated while travelling to school. Because of this, we are sometimes late for classes,” a school student told GPlus.
Residents and commuters who spoke to GPlus unanimously described the prolonged closure as a major disruption to their daily lives, saying it has affected mobility, increased travel time and added to routine inconveniences.
Around 200 metres from the closed bridge lies the Pamohi Wholesale Vegetable Market, one of Guwahati’s largest wholesale trading hubs.
Speaking to GPlus, a committee member of the market said that business activity has declined significantly since the bridge became inaccessible to regular vehicular traffic.
“We are facing tremendous difficulties. You can see for yourself how business has declined,” said Dipak Kakati, vice-president of the bazaar committee.
“Vehicles transporting vegetables, as well as buyers, are unable to access the market conveniently. Earlier, customers from Ganeshpara and Dhirenpara would travel here by e-rickshaw. However, the additional distance and higher transportation costs have discouraged many from coming,” Kakati told GPlus.
He also said that traffic volume on the alternative Ahomgaon–Moinakhurung route has increased considerably since the closure of the Pamohi bridge, placing additional pressure on the already busy stretch.
To ascertain the status of the repair work, GPlus contacted the Public Works Department (PWD). An official from the department’s Jalukbari Division said the newly constructed Bailey bridge is likely to be opened to the public shortly. A Bailey bridge is a prefabricated, portable structure designed for rapid assembly without the need for heavy machinery.
“We intend to open the alternate bridge for commuters and two-wheelers. However, police officials have expressed concerns that heavy vehicles may damage it,” the official said.
He added that the department is keen to make the bridge operational at the earliest to ease the difficulties faced by residents and daily commuters.
Speaking about the restoration of the existing bridge, the official said repair work would begin within a week after a portion of the structure is dismantled.
“As far as the old bridge is concerned, we will construct after dismantling some portion of it. The work will be started in a week’s time,” he said. “The foundation of the bridge will remain as is. Only the upper portion will be renovated.”
The official further said the renovation is expected to be completed within three months, after which normal vehicular movement across the route is likely to resume.
In the meantime, residents of Garchuk and Pamohi continue to grapple with the disruption caused by the closure of the bridge. What was once a key link between the two localities has remained largely inaccessible for months, forcing commuters to rely on longer and less convenient routes.
