A major traffic jam in the heart of Guwahati on Friday morning left thousands of commuters stranded for a long time after an unannounced security mock drill was carried out ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled two-day visit to Assam from December 20.
The drill took place near Lachit Ghat in Fancy Bazar and was conducted at the Inland Water Transport (IWT) point. Police and security agencies carried out the exercise to check preparedness and movement protocols before the Prime Minister’s arrival. The administration sealed off stretches near the Maligaon flyover, Kamakhya Gate and Fancy Bazar.
The sudden restrictions brought movement of vehicles to an almost complete halt. Witnesses said cars, buses, and two-wheelers remained stuck bumper-to-bumper for long durations. Many daily office-goers could not move for several minutes. Some frustrated motorists even switched off their vehicle engines while waiting in the queue, hoping the jam would ease. 
The long line of vehicles stretched from the end of the Maligaon flyover towards Fancy Bazar. People walking on foot said they saw vehicles stationary for long periods with passengers sitting silently and waiting. Many commuters expressed concern about being late for office, appointments, and other urgent commitments.
The Fancy Bazar stretch, one of the busiest trading points in the city, was completely blocked due to the mock drill. Shopkeepers and transport workers said that morning business hours were badly affected. Auto-rickshaw drivers and city bus operators reported delays and loss of time as their routes remained shut for almost the entire duration of the exercise.
Officials said the mock drill was part of standard security protocol for high-level visits by the Prime Minister. They stated that the drill was designed to check coordination between security agencies, movement through waterways, and emergency access plans linked to the IWT facility at Lachit Ghat.
However, several commuters pointed out that the lack of advance public notice added to the inconvenience. People said that if information about the drill had been widely communicated, they could have taken alternative routes or planned their morning travel differently. Motorists stuck in the jam expressed frustration that the drill was held during peak morning office hours when the city roads carry maximum traffic.
