Editor,
One’s fear and apprehensions have actually come true as the traffic arrangement between the Civil Hospital and Barik Point claimed three lives of a family. Through the letters in this newspaper and the Shillong Traffic Police website, I had time and again expressed the need to ponder on the feasibility of this new traffic arrangement that creates more chaos and confusion especially in the morning and evening hours when the Shillong Traffic Police commence duties and close shop at 8:00 pm. At such times vehicles tend to take whatever route they deem fit. This is a daily occurrence at the junction and the STP is aware of it. Surprisingly though many have pointed out to the impracticality of this traffic arrangement through the local news dailies the STP have decided to stick to it. I have always been cynical about this traffic rule that resembles a shopkeeper opening and closing shop every day. I had also questioned the failure to implement this particular traffic rule on a 24X7 basis just like the ones at Kachari junction, IGP point and Khyndai Lad point.
Now that lives are lost a workable solution needs to be arrived at before many more precious lives are lost due to this confused traffic arrangement. It does not suffice that traffic police personnel remain at the junctions till 8:30 pm. This is an important stretch and vehicles will ply on the stretch round the clock. It must also be kept in mind that there are numerous outstation vehicles that are unaware of the day and night rule. I fail to understand as to why should the NO ENTRY signboards be removed at all? The Chetri family has lost three of their loved ones due to this traffic confusion. I wonder if the Traffic Police Department will adopt a more judicious solution or remain adamant and stick to the confused traffic arrangement awaiting for many more lives to be lost?
Yours etc.,
Dr Jenniefer Dkhar,
Shillong-4
Ghastly accident
Editor,
While expressing my deepest condolence to the grandmother and her surviving grand-daughter and close relatives, on the Barik point tragedy, I would like to make few suggestions to decrease the number of such accidents in future. Countless number of right thinking and caring columnists have voiced their fears through the Shillong Times on the dangers posed by the new regulation between Barik Point and Civil hospital, which flip- flops between day and night at unspecified timings. Lack of farsightedness and professionalism has proved tragic. This stretch is part of the infamous NH 44 used by locals, state and inter-state drivers day and night and to withdraw traffic personnel manning this vital stretch few hours after dark, without clear hazard road signs or (in a computer world) without blinking text messages hung on giant screens around this stretch, the main road and the other two lanes from Pine Mount School to I.G.P. point, is ridiculous. The sadder part is that the truck driver was in an inebriated condition which is not surprising considering the attitude we have to drunken driving and the mushrooming of wine stores all along the Jorabat- Byrnihat stretch. The dullness of the last Assembly session was awakened by two MLAs, Mr Ronnie Lyngdoh and Mr. Ardent Basaiawmoit who called the Government to be more vigilant and severe on drunken driving. Unfortunately the much needed response from the government got suppressed in the bustle of the khyndailad beautification project. It is my sincere request for Government to reintroduce Mobile Courts on a war footing. With driving licences nowadays computerized, the criminal records of a driver could be flashed at the press of buttons. And with inter-state networks (All India basis) the records of drivers could be retrieved and the errant driver given exemplary punishment. If this is done, we would be able to see less number of families orphaned for no fault of theirs and lesser homes with widows and widowers and also lesser number of uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters, all sadly victims of drunken driving.
Yours etc..,
Wandell Passah,
Nongkrem.