State Govt should not give small-roads excuse: Mawthoh
SHILLONG: It was yet another day of traffic chaos in the city that witnessed long queues of vehicles inching forward as drivers were forced to maintain utmost patience.
Even VIPs were not spared as among those stuck in Saturday’s traffic snarl was Nongthymmai MLA Jemino Mawthoh who was on his way to Shillong from Sohiong.
Despite being a day off for schools, Saturdays usually witness a rise in the number of vehicles on city roads thanks to the inflow of tourists from Assam who descend to the pine city to spend their weekend. To add to it, the ongoing NH7 Weekender at Bhoirymbong (Umroi) added to the traffic congestion.
“There is a need for coordinated and holistic approach from the PWD, Transport, Urban Affairs and Home departments to solve the problem of traffic congestion,” said Mawthoh, who termed the situation as a state of ‘urban collapse’.
He added that one department cannot solve the issue and the government should not use the excuse of small roads. “An elaborate and comprehensive plan is required to overcome the problem,” he said.
“The situation is alarming and I fear what will happen to Shillong roads in the next couple of years,” the Nongthymmai MLA added.
Meanwhile, a commuter told this correspondent that it took him over an hour to reach Police Bazar from Lumdiengjri when the time taken on a given day would be 15 minutes. On Saturday, many people were seen waiting for taxis at different junctions as the vehicles were stranded in different parts of the city during the jam.
While the number of vehicles is rising steadily in the city, the roads have remained narrow and while the government does not seem to be in a hurry to chalk out plans to broaden the roads or construct flyovers, the situation is expected to only get worse every passing day.
It may be mentioned that recently, PWD (Roads) Minster MM Danggo made a series of visits to spots of perennial traffic snarl in parts of the city and outskirts aimed at constructing alternate roads to ease congestion. According to the minister, there are a few practical alternate road construction plans which he feels would address the problem in the long run.