‘24-hour rule would lead to more accidents in the area’
There has been a growing call among local residents for con verting the one-way rule imposed by the State Traffic Police (STP) at the Civil Hospital junction into a 24-hour affair.
However, the STP are of the opinion that accidents would increase in the area if the police make any further change in the one-way rule while is currently effective from 8 am to 8 pm.
Many people have raised their concern over the 12-hour traffic rule, questioning why the rule cannot be implemented on a permanent basis since it would lessen the confusion among people.
Talking to The Shillong Times, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Herbert Lyngdoh, said, “The rate of accidents rate would increase if the one-way rule is implemented for 24 hours.”
According to Lyngdoh, if the one-way rule is implemented for 24 hours it will be more dangerous especially at night time with huge number of trucks plying on the road.
“We are examining the proposal of converting the one-way rule into a permanent one but people need to understand that this move is only to decongest the area,” Lyngdoh added.
Citing that accidents are always reported from the Secretariat stretch (MG Road) despite a 24-hour one-way rule being implemented on the road, Lyngdoh said accidents would become a routine affair if the same yardstick is applied to the Civil Hospital junction. He also admitted that the STP was in need of more manpower and fixed dividers at the Civil Hospital junction to make the stretch of road accident free.
Lyngdoh also admitted that divers new to the area are often confused about the one-way rule since it comes into force from 8 am and continues till 8 pm. “Confusion is there among the people but only for the initial 30 -40 minutes and we put extra men there during these crucial hours,” he added, while stating that people are now getting used to the rule.
