Guwahati: Rectification work on the slippery stretch of the Maharaja Prithu flyover is likely to continue for another week, subject to weather conditions, public works department (PWD) officials said on Friday.The repairs were taken up following several incidents of vehicles skidding on the flyover during the monsoon, raising safety concerns among commuters.“We have almost completed the work. Spot-wise bituminous concrete-laying is being carried out at slippery stretches as shown by the commuters. However, if it rains, even during the morning hours, the work cannot be carried out one night before, as it requires dry conditions,” a PWD official said.The move came after videos of several skidding incidents were widely circulated on social media. The official said the incidents occurred between June 12 and June 29. A person also died after the two-wheeler he was riding collided with another two-wheeler, allegedly due to slippery road conditions.“The flyover has been surfaced with mastic asphalt, which may initially appear smooth but is designed to provide excellent skid resistance when properly laid. Vehicles are not expected to lose control under normal conditions. However, drivers must adhere to the prescribed speed limits, as overspeeding or reckless driving can still lead to skidding and accidents,” the official said.Officials from the Chandmari traffic branch said the prescribed speed limit on the flyover is 20-30 kmph.The four-lane Maharaja Prithu flyover connects Bamunimaidam at the eastern end of MRD Road with Ambari at the western end. Its eastern end is about 1.5 km from the Guwahati Refinery, while the western end is around 550 metres from Guwahati railway station.Commuters said they remain wary of using the flyover during the monsoon. “During the monsoon, riding on the flyover is risky. It is hazardous to travel along this stretch, so I have started using the service road instead of the flyover,” said Sudhakanta Das, a resident of Noonmati.
