Guwahati: As Assam heads to polls on April 9, Guwahati is no longer just the gateway to the northeast. The city has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing urban centres, with rapidly developing flyovers, bridges, and ambitious expansion plans. Infrastructural development has become a major poll issue, shaping both campaign narratives and voter sentiment.Across the city, massive BJP posters highlight bridge construction over the Brahmaputra, newly built flyovers, and roads, alongside the party’s key poll plank — the “infiltrator” issue. The city’s shift from tier-2 to tier-1 has been challenging, given congested localities, narrow roads, and decades of unplanned expansion. Yet, a surge in infrastructure — bringing the total number of flyovers and bridges in and around Guwahati to 30 — has helped keep congestion somewhat under control.
While BJP claims credit for the rapid pace of construction, Congress accuses the ruling party of misplaced priorities. “The priorities of the people do not define the infrastructure projects. The govt is ignoring the locations where the public desires these types of projects. Today, four or five major contractors, closely associated with the CM, define the development and budget priorities,” Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi said in Friday’s interview.Union home minister Amit Shah, campaigning in the city, lauded Assam’s development, while BJP state president Dilip Saikia had said, “Assam is among the fastest-developing states today, with a development growth rate of 45%.”PWD has indeed delivered projects at record speed. “The PWD alone has built seven flyovers in the city since 2018. One more is nearing completion near Cycle Factory,” said Sanjiv Shyam, chief engineer, PWD (roads). Of the total, 10 flyovers have been unveiled since July last year. The demand stems from a surge in vehicles. Kamrup RTO registered 25,106 vehicles in the first three months of 2026 alone, according to Vahan dashboard. “Where there were four lanes, we have added four more with the flyovers. This will ease pressure on the existing infrastructure,” Shyam said.Flyovers have also been repurposed beyond traffic management. Spaces below them now serve as parking lots — eight of the city’s 44 lots are under flyovers. Plans are underway to convert these spaces into multipurpose activity centres. Following metro trends, flyover pillars have been painted in vibrant colours, adding to the city’s evolving aesthetic.Naming conventions reflect political symbolism. While older flyovers honoured politicians, newer ones celebrate Hindu kings — Maharaja Prithu Flyover, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, Bhagadatta I and II — aligning the city with other saffron states marking the legacy of ‘Bharat’.The city now operates 271 electric and 100 CNG buses under ASTC, with private diesel buses becoming rare. Launched under the PM e-Bus Sewa 2023 initiative, the fleet aims to reduce pollution and dependence on private vehicles. “It’s an all-weather, air-conditioned solution. Buses can ply even on flooded roads,” said Nipul Kumar Datta, a private sector employee.Despite the surge in infrastructure, traffic woes persist. “Earlier, congestion was on the road. Then construction began, and congestion worsened. We thought it would ease once the flyover was built. But now the congestion has shifted to the top of the bridge. Below the bridge, too, traffic woes remain,” said cab driver Pritam Das.Drainage remains another major challenge. “People dump garbage into the drains. Where they’re covered, garbage piles up on the sides. Drain water still overflows and stagnates, even in posh areas like near the Chief Justice’s residence on MG Road,” said Pulak Deka, a morning jogger at Nehru Park.Some voters argue the city has too many flyovers. “Some of the flyovers haven’t even been completed before the inauguration. Road work is still on, and that too contributes to traffic congestion. For example, the Maharaja Prithu flyover — there are many such spots,” said Uddhab Das, a college student and first-time voter.Better connectivity within the city is only the first step. Assam’s population, projected to reach 3.7 crore in 2026, demands expansion. The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority’s Master Plan 2045 outlines new townships, recreational zones, and relocated administrative buildings across the Brahmaputra. The upcoming Rs 27,000-crore Tata Electronics OSAT facility at Jagiroad in Morigaon district is also expected to spur satellite township development.Currently, two bridges — Saraighat and the newly built Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu — connect north Guwahati with the main city. While the Saraighat route can take 90 minutes, the new bridge reduces travel time to just 15 minutes. “Once the outer ring road comes up, it will not only connect North Guwahati better but also improve access to national highways,” Shyam said.For residents, construction itself is disruptive. With narrow roads leaving little scope for diversions, work often happens at night. “Locals complain they can’t sleep, or students preparing for exams can’t study. But they have sacrificed a lot,” Shyam admitted.At the Cycle Factory junction, ongoing flyover construction has already left roads muddy and waterlogged after just a few spells of rain.The transformation of Guwahati is a race against its own geography. While the surge in flyovers and the 2045 Master Plan offer a roadmap for a tier-1 future, the city’s immediate liveability depends on the finer details of urban management.
