Editor,
I am submitting below a few suggestions for traffic movement in Shillong City.
- Regarding traffic movement on the busy routes in Shillong particularly in Laitumkhrah area, it can perhaps be considered if speed limit of the vehicles could be restricted on this route, as there are schools and hospitals on both sides. Railing on footpaths would also be helpful for safety of the pedestrians.
- Movement of heavy vehicles may not be allowed through the narrow roads, although the road from Fire Brigade-Nongrim Hills junctions towards Jynkieng is one way. This small road is mainly used as a short-cut to avoid the main road leading to the same destination. This is important to address as almost half of the road is used as parking place in the absence of any parking space nearby.
- During this school/college vacation, Traffic Branch may think of arranging re- painting the white lines of Zebra Crossing wherever done earlier as the painted lines have faded. The Traffic Branch may also consider identifying some more important junctions where Zebra Crossing could be painted for public convenience.
- About embarkation/disembarkation from local taxis/tourist vehicles, passengers should be made aware that they are to embark/disembark from the left door of the vehicles. Distribution of leaflets to the general public may perhaps be useful.
- All persons driving vehicles should be advised to adhere to the mandatory rules to wear seat belt/helmet whenever they drive, to avert any kind of accident, and to reduce fatalities in case of accidents.
- While the sincerity and promptness of the personnel of Traffic Branch is appreciated, the management of traffic flow will become all the more significant in view of the upcoming SAG Games being held in this city.
Yours etc.,
L Deb,
Shillong -3
New year revellers
Editor,
Kudos to Mr Salil Gewali for his brilliant letter titled ” New Year for soul-searching”(ST January 5, 2016). Right from the moment of commencement of the New Year, deafening crackers reverberated across the midnight sky rendering horror in the vulnerable hearts of infant, children, senior citizens, the sick and the animal world. The party continues on the streets, in bars and night clubs with utmost hooliganism. With the arrival of dawn, picnic parties start their journey towards various destinations playing music in decibels that violate the permissible limit. A “majestic” start to the New Year indeed! However this frenzied activity neither requires any concrete effort nor serves any real purpose. People with loads of money and time to waste can easily do it. Moreover, do the New Year revellers ever wonder a bit about the feeling of the unfortunate souls who lose their near and dear ones on that date or have to attend any to critical relatives in hospitals? The less said about the plight of the underprivileged the better. They have to deal with acute hunger and injustice year after year. The arrival of a New Year does not put any balm on their starved stomachs or uplift them from their utterly helpless situation.
The revellers absolutely miss the actual relevance of a new calendar. This is the right juncture to clean up their souls and engage in introspection. Barring few enlightened, exceptional persons, we see a lot of shortcomings and deficiencies invading our characters. So there is a lot of scope for improvement in our personalities. Instead of accusing others, why don’t we stand in front of the mirror embedded in our conscience and make a comprehensive list of our wrongdoings? We should make a resolution to lead our lives in a healthy manner not only in terms of hygiene or official duties but also in matters concerning relations with family members, neighbours, colleagues and the society as a whole? Is it too tough a challenge? Yes, partying and shouting are no doubt easier, but we can do it throughout the year! If we continue to engage ourselves in such acts to welcome the New Year also, where will the special significance of the red-letter day lie? A mere change of date and calendar only! And another pretext to party harder?
Unless we refresh our souls and take a sincere vow to bring real change in our individual lives the new year will never achieve its real significance.
Yours etc.,
Kajal Chatterjee,
Kolkata -114