Jowai residents fret over congestion

SHILLONG: The headquarters of West Jaintia Hills, Jowai is expanding at a rapid pace. The “random expansion”, however, is causing congestion which the town is finding difficult to cope with.
Residents have complained that there is no planned growth in the town with traffic jams being the biggest menace in the area.
“It is high time that the Government comes up with an effective and well planned development plan for the town before it reaches a dead end,” said some of the residents.
The residents rued that despite having a bypass Jowai town suffers from the perennial problem of traffic.
Speaking on the matter, West Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Arunkumar Kembhavi said that the District Administration has stopped issuing permits for local taxis.
He also said that the State Government is set to construct a road behind the Deputy Commissioner’s office which will connect to Iawmusiang.
“We are waiting for necessary sanctions,” he said adding that once the market comes up at Iawmusiang, the Government will undertake necessary road expansion plans in the area.