Guwahati, Sept. 26: Maligaon Chariali here is bracing for severe traffic congestion this Puja as the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has closed down the foot overbridge for urgent repairs.

Maligaon and adjoining Pandu host more than 100 Pujas. As a result, these localities witness heavy rush of pandal-hoppers.

GMDA chief executive officer M. Angamuthu said the footbridge was closed to the public late last night as its structure appears to have weakened. It will require retrofitting and strengthening. The footbridge was opened in 2013.

The foot overbridge's closure prompted traffic police to issue an advisory, asking ambulances and other emergency service vehicles to 'avoid Dinesh Goswami Road (in Maligaon) and take the National Highway bypass from Jalukbari to enter the city.

The advisory, issued by deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Amanjeet Kaur, also urged people travelling to the airport to start their journey an hour earlier than usual since there would be traffic congestion at Maligaon with a large number of pedestrians crossing the road because of the closure of the footbridge.

The Kamrup (metro) district administration today announced a reward for three Puja committees in three categories - eco-friendly, cleanliness and initiative, for discipline and safety measures.

'In keeping with the spirit of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the winners will be felicitated on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 at Gandhi Mandap here,' the statement said. It said the circle officers of Guwahati, Dispur, Chandrapur and Azara revenue circles, the deputy commissioners of police of East, Central and West police districts and members of nagarik committees will select Puja mandaps in areas within their jurisdiction and recommend them for final selection by the district authority.