Editor,
The traffic jam in Shillong – Guwahati highway has become a regular affair due to the inability of the state administration to deal with the situation. There is a saying, ‘where there’s a will there’s a way.’ Who was caught sleeping this time? Only god knows. Imagine being stranded on the highway for several hours with young children, sick and elderly people and with no access to toilets, water or food. Why don’t we give up playing the blame game and come out with solid solutions? Everyone is suffering here. be they the common people, politicians or the elite. It’s a shame that people entrusted with keeping the highway clear fail to see the seriousness of the situation and do not have a solid, foolproof plan to deal with it. Let me give the example of efficiency of highway flying squad here in England. Two days ago a massive accident took place on the highway in Taunton near Somerset. Nearly 15 vehicles collided with one another right in the middle of the road in the wee hours of morning. The vehicles included a few long haul trucks which either collided or turned turtle during the accident. Believe it or not, this entire jam was cleared so efficiently in a couple of hours. The emergency services arrived promptly and the highway patrol was on top of the situation within minutes of the accident. They have a dedicated team of police personnel and highway squad which looks after such incidents and they work round the clock. Meghalaya police should also have such squads who are trained in traffic management and in dealing with similar emergencies. How can such a long stretch of road be entrusted to one officer and a dozen of constables? Policing that stretch is not humanly possible. There should be adequate number of cranes deployed throughout the 103 kms stretch and they should be ready to go whenever needed. I believe that will only be possible if there is political will. Lastly, there should not be any bickering about jurisdiction among the police officers who are assigned duties on the highway. They should all be working for a common goal which is to control and minimise such traffic jams with efficiency.
Yours etc.,
Rajesh Swarnakar
Scotland
Politicising the highway!
Editor,
Unable to bear the pressure by social organizations who have been protesting for and against the four-lane project on National Highway 40, PWD Minister HDR Lyngdoh is now trying every trick to create confusion over the construction of another highway that leads to Nongstoin and other parts of Garo Hills, because wants political mileage for himself. The Minister in question is instrumental in creating problems over the alignment on NH 40 to suit his and other individual’s interests in league with other organizations. This has set a bad precedent in the political function of the state government. It also calls to question his credibility to hold a constitutional office. A project that ought to be completed within the stipulated target is deliberately delayed in the guise of bringing ‘quick development’ by so called ‘patriots’ of the state. If this is the scenario for a prestigious national project we can imagine what more would happen for other centrally-sponsored projects! Disgustingly the very representatives who we look upon to bring change are themselves indulging in dirty games. What is more unfortunate is that Dr Mukul Sangma fails to act.
Yours etc.,
Dominic S.Wankhar
Shillong-3
Another jam, same excuse!
Editor,
The nightmarish traffic snarl on the GS Road (4th- 5th Nov) which lasted almost 24 hours must serve as a wake-up call to the Government. Considering that thousands of trucks ply on this road in a single day, a breakdown every couple of days is imminent and should come as no surprise. But the policy makers in the Government and senior officers of the Traffic Police have shown ZERO FORESIGHT in tackling the problem. They have instead resorted to fire-fighting on a daily basis. Nobody is saying the traffic police aren’t working hard. But they definitely don’t have a decent plan to work with! This of course reflects on the caliber of their officers. Whereas the focus should have been on finding strategic and tactical solutions to the traffic problem, priority is given to knee-jerk solutions. No wonder the traffic cops are so ill-prepared to handle these problems!
The Ri Bhoi SP resorted to beating the “manpower constraint” drum to excuse their inability to tackle the situation effectively, but this has become old hat now! People pay scant regard to this idiotic excuse. Of course the driving habits of our motorists, who vie with each to be the first one to make a bad situation worse by inconsiderate parking, overtaking and jamming up the roads is also a matter of grave concern. But as there are no fines imposed by the police (who do not patrol the NH40 at regular intervals as they should be doing), the problem will continue and we will have to clench out teeth and bear it!
The point is, that Meghalaya is short on long term planning and preventive action taken by the Traffic Police to avert such situations. The all-too-familiar excuse used for every failure in every situation is – manpower constraint!
Yours etc.,
Daisy Kharkongor
Shillong-3
Clarification
Editor,
Apropos the letter “ Time to halt corruption in PWD “( ST Nov 9 2011) the writer is named as Kermon Passah, Shillong. As the name bears similarity to my name I take it upon myself to clarify that I have not written such a letter.
Yours etc.,
Kermon Passah
Managing Director,
Meghalaya Govt. Construction Corporation,
Shillong