Chronic Traffic Jam at Barbari Chariali Exposes Cracks in Guwahati’s “Smart City” Claims
Guwahati, 2025 — Daily traffic congestion at Barbari Chariali, along the Hengerabari-VIP Road stretch in Guwahati, has become a major point of frustration for commuters, once again raising questions over the city’s “Smart City” status.
The root cause of the persistent jam is not only the defunct traffic signal at one of the city’s busiest intersections but also a glaring absence of traffic personnel to regulate the growing chaos. Despite its designation as part of Guwahati’s Smart City infrastructure, the intersection remains unmanaged — ironically, smart only when it comes to imposing fines, not in ensuring seamless movement.
During peak hours, commuters heading from Six Mile towards Hengerabari often block the left turn lane, despite it being meant for uninterrupted flow. This, coupled with vehicles parked illegally along the road, reduces road width and halts movement entirely. Motorists regularly report waiting for 10–15 minutes in standstill traffic caused not by volume, but by disregard for basic civic sense.
“It’s not a lack of police presence alone — the real problem is the public’s behaviour. People block lanes, park recklessly, and ignore signals even when they work. The road is choked because of our own indiscipline,” said a commuter stuck in the jam on Thursday.
Local residents and regular office-goers have demanded immediate administrative intervention. They are urging the Guwahati Traffic Police to maintain a round-the-clock presence at Barbari Chariali, especially during office hours, and to ensure that vehicles are not parked along the road.
If Guwahati is to live up to the Smart City vision, ensuring basic traffic discipline and infrastructure functionality must become a priority — not just automated fines.
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