Passengers demand toilets
SHILLONG: The erstwhile two-lane National Highway 40 has been expanded into a spick and span four-lane expressway that has reduced the travel time between Shillong and Guwahati but commuters are not exactly happy.
Travelling on the road in the early morning hours presents a sorry scene for most people – that of bus loads of people relieving themselves or attending to nature’s call on the side of the road, sometimes, in full public view.
Commuters have, however, argued that they should not be blamed for relieving themselves on the road side as there are no public toilets set up along the 100-km highway for the commuters.
Roadside eateries or dhabas at Nongpoh do have toilets for travelers, but most of them are extremely dirty and seldom cleaned and unfit for use, the commuters explained.
“There are so many liquor stores all along the highway but not a single toilet for,” said a person who is a frequent traveler on the GS Road.
Passengers who are the worst affected from lack of toilets are women since men can relieve themselves anywhere, said a female passenger, while pointing out that the Meghalaya Government should address the concern of the female passengers and construct at least a couple of toilets at certain locations on the highway.
Some passengers also lamented the lack of ATM kiosks along the road, saying that they do not prefer traveling with loads of cash in their wallets and transactions become difficult without ATM booths on the highway.
Meanwhile, the State Nodal Officer for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in Meghalaya, R.K. Pandey, said they have no role to play in the matter as toilets under the Mission are constructed only in rural areas.