SHILLONG: The two newly inducted ministers, Martin M. Danggo and Ronnie V. Lyngdoh, want to take up some concrete initiatives to improve the living conditions of the people of the State despite the short tenure (more than a year) they have before the State goes to the polls in 2018.
When asked, both the ministers admitted that the time is short for them to materialise their dreams of making the city and the State a more livable place, but assured that they will do whatever they can to improve the situation within the allotted time.
While Lyngdoh, holding the urban and municipal affairs portfolio, plans to plug the loopholes in the sewerage system and also to make the State free from the menace of plastic, Danggo, who is in charge of PWD (Roads) is keen to widen the roads in parts of the State to reduce traffic congestion.
Danggo said he would start at least some ground work to ensure that the traffic snarl on the Umiam-Mawlai- Shillong stretch is addressed. “The distance from Guwahati to Shillong is reduced due to the improved road from Jorabat to Umiam, but when the vehicles approach Mawlai, there is always traffic congestion and this needs to be addressed at the earliest,” he added.
Danggo recently inspected the Mawlai-NEHU bypass road in connection with decongesting the Guwahati-Shillong road.
According to Danggo, there is a need to upgrade the single lane of Mawlai-NEHU bypass road to double lane so that people coming to the city can use this road which will in turn reduce the traffic snarl. He also said the VIP road to NEHU should be expanded, which will also be a solution to the traffic congestion.
Another expansion plan is for Mawlai-Umjapung road, and also the road from Nongmynsong to NEIGRIHMS which can connect Shillong bypass.
Moreover, the expansion work from Umshyrpi to Upper Shillong area and the construction of the new road from Laitkor to Malki though the forest are other priorities.
As far as Lyngdoh is concerned, he wants to ensure that there is better transportation facilities in the city as currently there are many loopholes in the functioning of the buses and maxi taxis which were sanctioned by the Centre.
“We need to review the agreement arrived at between the urban and municipal affairs department and the private parties who are running these buses and maxi taxi,” Lyngdoh said.
As part of replacing plastic carriers with cloth bags, the minister is also planning to set up a cloth manufacturing unit in his Mylliem constituency, which according to him will also provide better job opportunities to the youths besides women.
There are several other initiatives planned by Lyngdoh which include improving the government parking lots, which will be put under CCTV surveillance to contain crime, especially thefts, and co-coordinating with other departments to ensure cleanliness in the State, among others.
