Guwahati: A day after the inauguration of the new Kumar Bhaskar Verma Setu, residents from both Guwahati and North Guwahati banks streamed onto the 1.24-km bridge on Sunday, transforming it into a vibrant social hub.A crucial link for connectivity in the northeast, vehicular movement on the bridge is scheduled to begin in March, allowing people to experience its scenic beauty.From morning walkers, cyclists to senior citizens and curious youngsters, many paused midway, leaning against the railings to admire the mighty Brahmaputra flowing beneath. “This feels historic. We have always admired the Marine Drive in Mumbai, but walking above this vast river and witnessing both the sunrise and the sunset is an entirely new and unforgettable experience,” said Subodh Kumar, a Guwahati resident.Sneha Roy, a student at a private college in North Guwahati, said, “It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. For years, we have relied on ferries and long detours to reach our homes. Today, we are walking with the promise of easier access to the city’s commercial heart.”Tea vendors soon appeared with flasks of tea and packets of snacks, sensing the surge in crowd. However, several visitors also raised concerns about a lack of civic sense, pointing out that within hours of the inauguration, some people had begun littering the area with plastic bottles and even leaving spit stains on the railings.The bridge was inaugurated on Saturday by PM Modi and has been constructed at a cost of Rs 3,030 crore.
