SHILLONG: As the number of vehicles on Shillong roads is increasing by the day, the traffic department is finding it difficult to control frequent traffic snarls. This has compelled it to find new ways to control crowding of cars at thoroughfares.
The Traffic Department has introduced a rotary-type arrangement at Fire Brigade junction similar to that at Laitumkhrah. In the new system, vehicles coming from the Nongthymmai side of the highway have to take the Laitumkhrah route around MeECL power substation, which serves as a rotary at this junction instead of the earlier straight right turn.
Also, vehicles from Dhankheti side of this highway travelling to Nongthymmai and beyond will have to move around this substation instead of the earlier straight right turn alongside Kiddies’ Corner Secondary School building. The new arrangement is better than the old one, according to many commuters.
Similarly, the highway in between LIC and Assam House has been divided into three columns for better traffic movement. Road dividers have been put up in this part with specific earmarking. Those vehicles that are destined for Lachumiere, Laitumkhrah have to take the middle column whereas the side column is for Barik, Rhino and Police Bazar.
Many feel the “snaking arrangement” has helped in disciplining those on the wheel who would earlier create traffic confusion at Dhankheti. The road that opens up from adjacent LIC office remains the chock-a-block.
A section of the citizens in the past had demanded introduction of the “odd-even” formula like Delhi as it feels that it was the answer to Shillong’s traffic snarls.
There are many who observed that road widening is simply impossible at the present juncture and what the state government can at best do is to construct some flyovers at the busiest intersections like Garikhana, Rilbong Point and Anjalee, Civil Junction, Barik, Dhankheti, Fire Brigade and beyond even if it is a single lane flyover.
