Fatasil Ambari is the name of the area where visitors never wish to go a second time at any cost because of the area’s terrible road condition.

The road is filled with a huge number of small and big potholes, and during the monsoon, it looks nothing but a set of small ponds.

The 2-km road, connecting Kumarpara with Cycle Factory, generally gives the traveller the experience of a bumpy ride and is naturally the scene of many pathetic accidents. The road is simply a nightmare for newcomers and even for the regular pedestrians who are forced to venture along the route daily.

“During the monsoon season, the knee-deep water that floods the road ? mixed with dirty water from the roadside drains ? is the biggest headache for us,” said Tapan Baishya, a local resident of Fatasil.

There is no drainage system in the area worth mention. The situation demands immediate emergency measures. The problem lies in the negligence and callousness of the authorities concerned.

“Few pucca garbage bins have been built along the road. Rubbish overflowing from these bins remains scattered all around. The Guwahati Municipal Corporation cleans the garbage dumps periodically. Stray dogs and crows scavenge here and ragpickers rummage through the heap, scattering and dirtying the area,” said Biren Dutta, a trader from the Fatasil market.

Moreover, the undisciplined parking, traffic, broken footpath, open manholes and the roadside market make the Fatasil bazar and its nearby area more accident-prone, added Dutta.

Prabhat Kumar Das, the local GMC commissioner of the area, said: “With regard to the poor condition of Fatasil road, we have recently submitted a memorandum to Himanta Biswa Sarma, the local MLA, requesting him to take necessary action to improve the condition of the road. In reply, we received only verbal commitment from him saying that he would take necessary action.”

Das added that only a 2-km stretch from the Garchuk point, along with the construction of drains, is under the construction by the PWD. The construction process will gradually proceed through the Fatasil Ambari main road.

Previously (about four years back), there was a city bus service (number 10) from Bharalumukh to Katohbari bazar, via Fatasil. But now it has been taken off due to the poor condition of the road. The saving grace for the passengers, however, is that a number of trekkers ply on this road, but these vehicles don’t obey traffic rules and carry more than the specified number of passengers, risking their lives.

The area, which is basically residential, has no major landmark except for the R.G. Baruah College and Mayur Krishna cinema hall, but ironically the office complex of the Road Research Laboratory of Assam government is situated beside this road.