Beloved Guwahati Sunset Vantage Point Lost to Construction
A cherished social landmark in Guwahati, where generations of residents and students gathered to unwind and watch spectacular sunsets, has vanished from view. The popular resting spot on the Chandmari flyover, leading towards Zoo Road, has been obscured by the ongoing construction of the massive Noonmati-Ambari elevated corridor.
A Hub for Evening Gatherings Now Blocked
Located near the iconic 'Commerce Adda Point', opposite the historic Gauhati Commerce College established in 1962, this stretch was more than just a sidewalk. It served as an informal community space for evening gatherings, casual conversations, and panoramic views of the city. With the new flyover's pillars now rising, the very vistas that drew crowds are completely blocked.
Rituraj Deuri, a local resident, shared his nostalgia. "Those sunsets from the Chandmari flyover were magical. It was our go-to spot after classes and office. We could sit for hours without any restrictions. Its popularity grew as food joints emerged nearby," he said, adding that the panorama is now dominated by towering concrete structures.
Official Assurance and Public Discontent
Bhaskar Bhagawati, the PWD executive engineer of the New Guwahati Division, provided details about the project. He stated that the upcoming 5 km Noonmati–Ambari elevated corridor will merge with the existing flyover. A rotary is planned at the junction to improve traffic flow. He assured that the pedestrian sidewalk on the old flyover will remain intact post-construction, allowing people to continue enjoying the sunset views.
However, this assurance has done little to quell public disappointment and criticism about the city's shrinking pedestrian spaces. The construction has severely impacted the utility of the area for walkers.
Milin Dutta, a resident of Bamunimaidam, highlighted the practical difficulties. "We earlier had a walking stretch of over 500 metres on the existing flyover. The construction has made it difficult to use," he said. He pointed to a larger civic issue: "Considering the city's current state, footpaths are often unusable—damaged, encroached, or poorly maintained. This creates a constant fear of accidents for pedestrians, making walking unsafe and inconvenient."
Calls for a Safer Pedestrian Promenade
With cranes dominating the skyline, the disruption has galvanized calls for better urban planning focused on people, not just vehicles. Residents are now urging the authorities to not only retain the sidewalk but to develop it into a proper, well-lit pedestrian promenade. Such an upgrade would enable safer evening strolls and potentially restore some of the area's lost charm as a community space, even if the original, unobstructed view is gone forever.
The situation underscores a common conflict in developing cities: the tension between necessary infrastructure development and the preservation of intangible social spaces that contribute to a city's character and quality of life.
