Guwahati, Oct 15: The city is looking to turn some of its busiest traffic junctions into pockets of green, with the state government launching an initiative to transform spaces beneath flyovers into vertical gardens and improve the city’s urban environment.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday, inaugurated a vertical green wall beneath Bhagadatta Flyover-1 in Dispur, marking the expansion of a citywide project that envisages green walls at 20 locations beneath flyovers.
Implemented by the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) under the National Clean Air Programme, the Rs 34.82-crore initiative aims to introduce greenery in spaces that have largely been associated with traffic, parking and other urban uses.
“The project began at the GNRC flyover and will now be extended to 20 locations across the city,” Sarma said.
A five-year maintenance contract has also been provided to ensure the upkeep of the green walls.
The Forest Department has approved a scheme, Xeujiya Prasir, to introduce greenery beneath flyovers and at other suitable locations, the Chief Minister said, describing the initiative as an effort to make Guwahati greener and more visually appealing.
“Through this scheme, we will bring green coverage to flyovers and other appropriate places. When people see these green spaces, they will feel happy and be inspired to protect the environment. It will also make the city look beautiful,” he said.
Beyond aesthetics, the project is aimed at addressing pollution in areas where traffic remains stationary for extended periods.
The initiative also reflects a changing approach to the use of spaces beneath flyovers. Sarma recalled that such areas were once kept clear of vehicles using nets and were viewed differently following the bomb blast at the Ganeshguri flyover.
“Earlier, we used to put up nets beneath flyovers to prevent vehicles from parking there. After the bomb blast at the Ganeshguri flyover, we began viewing flyovers as potential terrorist threats. That situation no longer exists. Now, vehicles are parked in some places, while other spaces are used for badminton courts or under the Xeujiya Prasir initiative,” he said.
Keeping the green walls alive will require more than planting alone. The GMC has involved agencies, including the Guwahati Jal Board and the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), to facilitate the irrigation and power infrastructure needed for the project.
The five-year maintenance arrangement is intended to support the long-term upkeep of the installations.
Whether the green walls can deliver sustained environmental benefits will depend on their maintenance and how effectively the city manages these spaces over time.
For Guwahati, the project marks an attempt to give underused urban infrastructure a greener purpose while addressing the environmental pressures associated with growing traffic.