Guwahati: Residents of Rukminigaon, under Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) ward 48, have been dealing with non-functional street lights, poor road conditions and the challenge of perennial floods.
The problem, which according to a few has been persistent for years, is yet to be resolved, despite the govt being appraised about the same.

Home to 13,000 residents, the ward is situated near the state’s capital, one of the prime locations in the city. Additionally, the area encompasses parts of Rukminigaon, parts of GS Road and the Capital Complex area. It was pinned by the GMC to be developed as a model ward. However, according to the residents, over the years the ward has become renowned for all the wrong reasons.
In a meeting on Sunday, residents said during the rainy seasons, the situation worsens for them. Many bylanes get waterlogged and people have to traverse the paths while wading through water in the dark. The poor condition of the roads only adds to the challenge.
The residents also pointed out that the Udayan Path, Bishnu Path, Rupaleen Path, and Manasha Path are a few of the roads which are reeling under these problems.
Ranjan Kalita, a resident of Manasha Mandir Path, lamented that people are unable to leave their houses due to waterlogging. The water also enters houses, damaging household items. “The authorities concerned have not been able to come up with a permanent solution yet. They keep making hollow promises. Our children are the ones who are suffering the most as they have to miss school for days at a time. Apart from that, people travelling on that road often meet with accidents,” Kalita added.
Manjit Goyari, a shopkeeper and resident of Rupalin Path, said he has incurred losses of Rs 1.5 lakh due to the flood. “Although there was a joint survey carried out in June, we have not been notified about the plan of action. Additionally, the lack of streetlights has also become a major cause for concern as miscreants use the opportunity to indulge in antisocial activities,” Goyari said.
Resident Pavan Chandra Boro said residents have to incur additional costs to repair their vehicles due to the flood, which was never a problem before. “We grew up in the locality and we never encountered any waterlogging-related problems in the past. However, in the last three or four years, the problem has exacerbated significantly.”