Guwahati: Residents have urged urged authorities to focus on long-pending civic problems while welcoming Guwahati Municipal Corporation’s call for citizens to help transform the city through a purple-themed beautification drive.Under the initiative, neighbourhoods across Guwahati are being encouraged to paint shop fronts, residential buildings and public walls in shades of purple. The colour is meant to reflect the Kopou Phool (Foxtail Orchid), Assam’s state flower associated with Bohag Bihu. Officials say the move will improve the city’s appearance and support cleanliness and urban development efforts.Residents, however, said cosmetic upgrades should not take precedence over basic infrastructure and service delivery.“I am not opposed to the idea of the Purple City campaign, especially if it draws from the cultural symbolism of ‘kopou phool’ and strengthens Guwahati’s identity. However, urban cleanliness cannot be reduced to painting buildings or improving visible aesthetics alone,” said Shirsendu Das, a resident from Lal Ganesh.He said the city needs action on solid waste management, including source segregation, timely segregated daily collection and efficient material recovery systems.Another resident, Ranjan Kalita of Rukminigaon, said, “There are numerous issues in the city that require urgent attention. While this purple-themed city initiative is a welcome step, problems such as the lack of potable water supply, open drains, and urban flooding persists. These issues should be addressed first; only then can efforts toward enhancing the city’s aesthetic appeal be effectively pursued.”Urban planner Urmi Buragohain also questioned the impact of the campaign amid unresolved civic concerns.“It seems fitting that Guwahati’s leadership has embraced purple, the traditional colour of royalty, as the city’s defining aesthetic. Yet beneath this cosmetic transformation lie far more urgent issues: rising pollution, open drains that double as footpaths, inadequate construction safety standards, poorly designed roads, and a lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Against the backdrop of these persistent challenges, it is worth questioning what tangible benefit such beautification efforts are intended to deliver,” she said.
