Concrete pillars block Station Road as work on the project gets under way. Picture by Eastern Projections

May 19: Two days after the inauguration of the Nehru Park and Judges Field merger and beautification project, the Guwahati Town Club has demanded changes in the plan for greater convenience of the public.

The Guwahati Town Club, one of the oldest clubs in the country, said the beautification plan must leave out Station Road, also known as Kachari Road, that connects the busy MG Road with HB Road, Guwahati railway station and the Reserve Bank of India.

“Closure of Station Road, which bifurcates Nehru Park and Judges Field, will cause a great deal of inconvenience to drivers and pedestrians. The road eases traffic congestion on MG Road and HB Road. It also acts as a short cut route for those who want to reach Guwahati railway station. People used this road to park cars and take a short cut to reach Judges Field whenever big events were hosted on the ground,” Kailash Sarma, secretary of the club said.

Besides, as Station Road has been blocked to execute the project, the Gauhati Town Club building, located on Judges Field premises, will have to build a new entrance from MG Road instead of the Station Road.

Sarma said blocking Station Road to merge Nehru Park and Judges Field would also create disruption in sports activities that are hosted at the ground. He said the members of the Guwahati Town Club were in favour of beautification and development of both Nehru Park and Judges Field without any merger.

Under the plan, Nehru Park and Judges Field will be merged to create a separate playground, a joggers’ track, an exclusive meditation and yoga garden, a pedestrian plaza and several recreational facilities.

The blocked Station Road has already started creating traffic congestion, which in turn is spilling over to MG Road. An official in the traffic department said the Station Road also acted as a stop for buses and other vehicles like the Cruiser, which were bound for Sualkuchi, Hajo, Kamakhya temple, Rani, Boko and Bijoy Nagar.

“Finding the Station Road closed, the buses now try to park on the busy MG Road. Even though we are driving them away, the problem will remain for some days. But our biggest headache will be on May 24 when the Judges Field will host a mega function on the second anniversary of the Congress government. The closure of the Station Road is expected to have the worse impact on that day as thousands of party workers, leaders, ministers and other VIPs are expected to assemble at the field,” the official said.

A student of Cotton College said closure of the Station Road would create traffic snarls on HB Road, where the main building of the college is located. Blocking the road would affect the atmosphere of the college, he added.

The students of this premier institute have been demanding a closure of the HB Road for traffic during college hours..