By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The traffic scenario in the city has gone from bad to worse in recent times. Taking cognizance of the urgency to address the traffic conundrum, the State Government has decided to recruit traffic personnel for constituting a separate traffic wing in the police department.
Informing about the Government’s initiative to regulate traffic and prevent congestions in Shillong city and the national highways 40 and 44, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma said, “Keeping in mind the government’s commitment to address traffic congestion in Shillong and other principal towns of the State, after due diligence we have decided to take immediate steps for efficient management of traffic in the State.”
The new initiative of the State Government to augment the manpower requirement for creating a separate traffic wing of the police department is expected to provide some relief from the endless jams which have become the bane of every Shillongite.
The mandate of this separate traffic wing would be to tackle the traffic menace in the city and other parts of the State.
Besides the delegation of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) to monitor the functioning of the new wing, the government has also sanctioned several posts for the new unit which would include 2 deputy superintendents of police (DSP), 8 inspectors, 17 sub inspectors, 30 head constables, 75 constables and 9 driver constables.
“The government had resolved to come out with a plausible solution before Christmas and we are happy that this has fructified today with the sanction being accorded forthwith,” a delighted Dr Sangma said here on Friday.
It is learnt that the advertisement for the recruitment to the freshly created posts would be floated shortly.
The formation of the separate traffic wing is a much needed exercise for controlling the smooth flow of traffic across the city and on the highways.
Dr Sangma informed that prior to being commissioned, members of the new unit which would be managing traffic in Shillong, Jowai, Tura and Nongpoh in the first phase. They will be imparted adequate and specialised training at several places including North East Police Academy (NEPA).
“Depending upon the ability of a place to absorb the trainees, we will send our boys for specialised training so that they are properly equipped to handle the great responsibility that they will have to shoulder,” the Chief Minister asserted.
This initiative of the State Government to create an independent and effective traffic wing is just the beginning of a huge challenge of making Shillong and the national highways free from the inveterate jams.