By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The condition of the roads is in a pathetic condition in the city. There are numerous potholes from the Civil Hospital Junction up to Garikhana (KHADC) as pedestrians have cursed the authorities for not maintaining the road in the city and elsewhere.
Speaking to The Shillong Times a resident of the city said that it is quite sometime that the condition of the road near Anjalee Petrol Pump, Rhino Junction and Civil Junction is in a dilapidated condition. “I don’t know how many more months the PWD is going to wait to repair these roads. What are they actually waiting for to see these roads turning into wells,” said a resident of Lumdiengjri.
A doctor from the Civil Hospital said that the hospital is thronged by thousands of patients throughout the day and the condition of the road near the hospital ought to be in a better condition. “The condition of the road near the entrance and exit of the hospital is nightmarish and mind it, this is in this condition for over a year now,” said the doctor requesting anonymity. Another cause of concern is the footpath near the boundary wall of the same hospital.An employee of Survey of India said that the pathetic condition of the footpath has made it difficult for the pedestrians and school children. “This footpath is the lifeline of two different sides of the city. Thank god that nothing fatal has occurred so far in this junction but I want to know how it can lie in this condition for a year with the PWD not even bothered about it,” he said.A resident of Dudgeon Lane said that the PWD is repairing the road near the Main Secretariat Building when the road is already in a better condition. “I don’t understand the way our government functions here. Does the government have to be told that the road from Mawlai to the city needs urgent repairing works,” said the resident.
An elderly lady from Lummawbah said that the Rilbong Junction in the recent past has seen a massive accident and there are have been many such incidents in this junction in the past. “The government here has the money to take their wives to foreign jaunts and attend bamboo conference in Belgium but there is no money for the roads and footpaths,” she said.
Meanwhile, when the matter was taken up with the PWD Department here, a source blew the usual trumpet, what they have been blowing over the years. “We will repair the roads once the rainy spell is over,” said that source. To this affected pedestrians and residents asked if vehicular and public movement comes to a halt during the rainy season.