Traffic chaotic in Guwahati: Gauhati High Court

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: State Transport Commissioner Adil Khan has admitted before the Gauhati High Court that the State Transport Department is facing acute shortage of enforcement staff. The High Court issued directions that “considering peculiar facts and circumstances of the case and the fact that the traffic in Guwahati Town is chaotic and without appropriate enforcement staff, the situation cannot be retrieved, appropriate decisions be taken for creation of posts at the State level”.

State Transport Commissioner of Adil Khan assured the court recently that “all pragmatic steps would be taken to rationalize the routes. An assurance has further been given to the court that the entire route within the city, which is heavily burdened with traffic would be segmented and different officials would be deputed by rotation to monitor incognito the buses in regard to all the aspects of their route allocation; ingress and aggress from the buses; whether the doors of the buses are being closed; whether route permit has been displayed on the buses prominently; etc.”

The bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Ajai Lamba and Justice Soumitra Saikia was hearing a PIL (72/2016) on traffic congestion in Guwahati.

The High Court directed the ASTC Managing Director to coordinate with the Commissioner of Transport, Assam and court-appointed Commissioner DIG (MPC) Nitul Gogoi and make sure by March 17, 2020 that ‘the ASTC buses do not flout and violate any order passed by this court’. The ASTC MD was also asked to file his affidavit after consultation of the issue with the Transport Commissioner.

On the bus lay bays, the bench directed PWD Commissioner & Secretary “to make sure that bus lay bays are provided while ensuring two free lanes on the routes”.

The High Court also directed the State DGP to “file his personal affidavit in regard to the progress made for segregation of police force into investigation branch and law-and-order branch”.

The court also directed the State Government’s senior counsel D Saikia to ensure that affidavit of the Commissioner, Guwahati Municipal Corporation be filed in regard to removal of wholesale markets.

The Court asked the Commissioner of Transport to remain present in the next hearing of the PIL slated for March 17, 2020.

Also Watch: ATDC Chairman Jayanta Malla Baruah attends BJP’s organizational meeting ahead BTAD elections