Union Minister stranded on highway; hitches ride on motor cycle
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The unrelenting traffic congestion on the Shillong-Guwahati highway spares no one. On Saturday, Union Minister of State for Water Resources Vincent Pala had to vacate his air conditioned, swanky vehicle and travelled in a motorcycle to reach Shillong.
The first timer MP and Union MoS was on his way to Shillong from New Delhi. On reaching Mawiong he was caught in the traffic jam which had spilt over since Friday.
Finding no other option, Pala finally called up one of his friends and asked to be picked up on a motorcycle to reach Shillong. The friend responded and Pala reached Shillong as a pillion on a motorcycle, braving the cold breeze.
“I had to reach my residence at 4 pm as I had to meet some people and so finally I had to travel as a pillion on my friend’s motorcycle to reach Shillong,” Pala added.
The traffic snarl has defied all solutions. Shillong city saw a long line of trucks stranded since Friday and all of Saturday. It continued until Saturday evening.
Pala is not the only VIP to get caught in the traffic snarl. Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma too was on his way out and his personal security officers (PSOs) had to clear the road inch by inch on Saturday.
The Union Minister said, “The only solution to the perennial traffic jams in the State are the railways.”
He also asserted that the major cause for the traffic jams are the numerous trucks on the highway and railways are the only way to tackle the situation.
The railway project has been repeatedly opposed by the NGOs fearing it would invite large scale influx of outsiders.
“Let the NGOs do their job and Government will do its own job,” Pala said while adding that at least goods train carrying essential commodores should be allowed to come into the State.
Meanwhile, Home Minister HDR Lyngdoh is also very concerned with the traffic snarl in the city as well as the highways and the hundreds of trucks stranded in different part of the state since Friday.
“I called up the SP and he informed me that many trucks are finding it difficult to ignite in low temperatures and this is leading to huge jams,” he added.
“Diesel fuel tends to coagulate in the winter time making it difficult for drivers of the trucks to start the ignition so they are stranded,” Lyngdoh said.
With traffic becoming the biggest problem, people are questioning as to why the Shillong Bypass cannot be used for travelling.
The over 250-km long highway is the only link between landlocked Tripura, Mizoram and Silchar with the rest of India.
Many who travelled from Guwahati to Shillong or vice versa to meet their relatives for Bihu spent about nine hours on the highway.
An exasperated doctor who came to see his mother in Shillong said, “How can the people of Meghalaya allow themselves to be held captives by these trucks?”
Good question indeed but one that Government is not ready to answer.