A public toilet at Uzan Bazar, one of Guwahati’s busiest riverfront zones, has remained locked and unusable for years, creating serious sanitation issues for street vendors and pedestrians in the area.
The facility, located near a high-footfall vending stretch, is under the jurisdiction of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC). During a site visit, the toilet’s rusted iron gates were found immovable, with no signs of recent maintenance.
A locked public toilet at Uzan Bazar has highlighted sanitation neglect in central Guwahati. Located near a busy vending zone, the GMC-run facility has remained shut for years, forcing vendors and pedestrians to cope without basic sanitation as foul odour and abandonment persist along the riverfront.
What Was Observed on the Ground
The closed toilet has become a visible marker of neglect. A strong stench of human waste hangs around the structure, pointing to prolonged abandonment and the absence of any functional alternative nearby.
Vendors operating in the area said the toilet was locked after years of poor upkeep rather than any planned renovation or upgrade.
What Local Shopkeepers Say
A shopkeeper working near the site said the facility fell into disuse due to lack of cleaning and repair.
“See, it is under the GMC office, still it is like this. The gate got rusted because it was locked for a long time. Earlier, people used to urinate outside the toilet because it was very dirty. Eventually, it became unbearable, so it was locked. Since then, no maintenance has taken place,” the shopkeeper said.
Why This Matters in Uzan Bazar
Uzan Bazar serves as a key pedestrian corridor linking markets, riverfront areas, and nearby institutions. The lack of a functional public toilet affects:
- Street vendors who spend long working hours on-site
- Pedestrians and commuters, including elderly people
- Women vendors, who face added difficulty without safe sanitation
The issue is particularly acute given the area’s steady footfall throughout the day.
A Wider Pattern Across Guwahati
The situation at Uzan Bazar reflects a broader sanitation gap across Guwahati, where public toilets meant for vendors and commuters are often defunct, locked, or entirely absent.
A ground survey conducted among street vendors in multiple parts of the city found limited access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, forcing many to work under undignified and unhealthy conditions.
Civic Responsibility and Oversight
Urban planners and public health experts note that public sanitation is a basic civic service, especially in commercial and riverfront zones with continuous foot traffic.
The locked facility raises questions about maintenance oversight, accountability, and timely intervention by civic authorities.
What Happens Next
As of the site visit, there was no visible notice indicating renovation plans or reopening timelines for the Uzan Bazar toilet. Vendors and residents said they are awaiting action from the GMC to either restore the facility or provide an alternative.
Frequently Asked Questions
The toilet falls under the jurisdiction of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC).
Without access to sanitation facilities, vendors working long hours are forced to manage without basic hygiene, affecting health, dignity, and working conditions.
