Lamb Road in Uzan Bazar is marked by potholes, broken footpaths and civic neglect on full display
Potholes, broken footpaths and low-hanging cables now define Lamb Road in Uzan Bazar, a once-quiet inner lane that residents say has suffered long-term civic neglect and now lies in advanced deterioration. Damage is worst at key junctions, Jorpukhuri Road, Satya Baruah Lane and near Ugratara Devalaya where pedestrian infrastructure has almost collapsed and cracks run across the concrete carriageway.
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One of the worst-hit spots is the footpath near Ugratara Devalaya, a temple visited by devotees across Assam, is unusable: concrete rings from past work, debris and overgrowth block movement, turning the former pedestrian space into a dumping ground often occupied by stray animals.
“The footpath has been left like this for so long we’ve almost stopped noticing it,” said Munindra, a local, accusing multiple government bodies of passing responsibility without action.
The situation worsens during peak hours when visitor vehicles spill onto the roadside and reduce the two-lane stretch to a single lane. “We have to think twice before crossing, especially in the evenings,” said Kunal, a student. He further said that nearby hostels and PGs add evening pedestrian movement, increasing congestion after dark.
Safety concerns go beyond traffic conflict. A dense web of overhead telephone and electricity cables hangs loosely along several sections, with some lines lying on the ground. Residents say no effective steps have been taken to secure or reorganise the network.
Traffic management strains the area. At the four-way junction near Latasil Field, where Lamb Road meets Fatich Chandra Road, there is no traffic signal system; commuters say the absence leads to frequent confusion and near-conflict at an already busy intersection.
Many residents trace the decline to construction of the Maharaja Prithu Flyover over the old GNB Road. They say Lamb Road was never designed for the added volume and type of traffic after it became part of the flyover’s diversion network. Following environmental protests, the PWD shifted the flyover’s start to the Lamb–GNB junction, turning a quiet road into a busy connector. Construction also caused prolonged disruption, with sections blocked for storage and left uneven.
“They used this road to dump construction materials. We couldn’t sleep because of the noise of unloading steel rods,” one resident said. “The damage remains visible,” the resident added.
Concerns about future pressure persist. PWD data indicates plans for an additional extension of the Maharaja Prithu Flyover linking Guwahati Club and CK Agarwala Road via a proposed 390-metre, three-lane stretch; because CK Agarwala Road connects to Lamb Road, residents fear increased traffic could further strain the corridor.
Responsibility remains disputed. A Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Executive Engineer said the road falls under the Public Works Department (PWD), while the civic body is responsible for maintenance and day-to-day management. The official added that while PWD is currently constructing drains along one side of the road, GMC is simultaneously carrying out drainage work in adjoining lanes, resulting in overlapping responsibilities.
A senior PWD official said the Chief Minister is yet to issue directions regarding the future course of the flyover-related works, adding that maintenance activity is ongoing and that responsibility is distributed across multiple bodies involved in the project and surrounding infrastructure.
For daily commuters, such explanations offer little relief. “The old GMC office is barely a kilometre away. This is the route officials themselves use, yet nothing changes,” said Sachin, an e-rickshaw driver.
Residents view overlapping departmental responsibility as a key reason for fragmented repairs, recurring potholes, dangling cables and obstructed footpaths; without coordinated intervention, durable restoration remains unmet.