Guwahati, Oct 26: Streetlights have stopped working along the Ambari stretch of Guwahati’s Maharaj Prithu flyover, leaving parts of the elevated road in darkness for the past three to four days and raising concerns over commuter safety.
The lights on both sides of the flyover, between the District Library and Burha Jame Masjid, have reportedly stopped functioning.
“The flyover has certainly reduced traffic congestion and travel time between Noonmati and Dighalipukhuri. But ever since it was opened, one problem after another has emerged. Now, with the lights not working, the stretch near Ambari becomes completely dark at night. We fear that a serious accident could happen at any time if the problem is not addressed immediately,” a local resident said.
Another resident called for urgent intervention, pointing to earlier concerns over the flyover’s slippery surface.
“First, there were concerns over the slippery surface, and now the lights have stopped working. It is worrying that such an important stretch of road is plunged into darkness after sunset. The authorities must take immediate steps to restore the lighting,” the resident said.
Public Works Department (PWD) officials, however, maintained that the lights generally remained functional, attributing occasional failures to technical glitches.
“Sometimes, technical glitches may occur, but the lights generally remain functional. Out of so many lights, one or two may occasionally stop working, but it is not the case that all the lights remain switched off. We are taking the necessary steps from our end and will continue to do so,” a PWD official told The Assam Tribune.
The lighting failure adds to concerns over the flyover’s condition, following monsoon complaints about slippery road conditions on the stretch from Chandmari to the Ambari.
In June, commuters reported difficulties controlling their vehicles even at moderate speeds during rainfall.
Senior Advocate Santanu Borthakur was among those affected. “Another vehicle rammed into our car from behind after losing control on the slippery surface, causing extensive damage. I had to spend nearly Rs 75,000 on repairs,” he had previously told The Assam Tribune.
Authorities subsequently carried out repair work, but commuters said the problem persisted. Concerns resurfaced on June 29, when photographs and videos circulated on social media showing motorcycles skidding on the flyover during rainfall.
Stretching 5.50 km along Maniram Dewan Road and Gopinath Bordoloi Road, the Maharaj Prithu flyover connects Noonmati with Dighalipukhuri and is the longest flyover in the Northeast.
Built at a cost of Rs 852 crore, the flyover was completed by the Public Works Department’s contractor in 28 months, ahead of the stipulated 36-month deadline. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma formally inaugurated it on March 10.
Envisioned as a major intervention to ease traffic congestion and improve connectivity, the flyover has since faced complaints over its surface conditions and, now, its streetlighting.
Residents have urged the authorities to restore the lights promptly and ensure regular maintenance, warning that the dark stretch could pose a safety hazard to commuters after sunset.