Guwahati: MS Road and HB Road in Fancy Bazar, one of the city’s busiest commercial areas, will be no-vending zones from Sept, state housing and urban affairs minister Kaushik Rai said.The decision was taken after a review meeting focused on addressing persistent traffic congestion in the area. Rai said the measures were aimed at easing congestion in Fancy Bazar while ensuring a more organised and regulated business environment.“Under the new arrangement, commercial vehicles will be permitted to operate on MS Road and HB Road only between 9 pm and 7 am. Parking facilities will also be available for vehicles used by the general public, while movement of handcarts will continue to be permitted,” Rai wrote in a social media post.He added that the same system would eventually be implemented on SS Road. A separate date for declaring SS Road a no-business zone will be announced later, he said.The meeting was attended by Guwahati Municipal Corporation mayor Mrigen Sarania, Kamrup Metropolitan district commissioner Swapnil Paul, GMC commissioner Chinmoy Prakash Phukan and deputy commissioner of police (traffic) Jayanta Sarthi Bora, along with officials from Assam Police and other departments.The decision comes amid persistent concerns over traffic bottlenecks, roadside commercial activities and parking-related problems in Fancy Bazar, which regularly sees heavy movement of vehicles, pedestrians and goods carriers.“Coordinated efforts by the GMC, district administration, traffic police, Assam Police and other agencies would help address Fancy Bazar’s traffic problems and make the area more planned and organised,” Rai said.
