Editor,
Road width is not the main problem causing traffic jams. Rather traffic jams are due to haphazard overtaking. With the ever increasing number of vehicles entering Shillong and other towns, traffic jams will also increase till one fine day, traffic will come to a standstill (vehicle manufacturers should start incorporating toilets in vehicles. Front seat for the boys, back seat for the girls)
The main cause of traffic jams is (a)Hold up at cross roads (b) Pedestrians crossing at cross roads, and anywhere along the roads (c) The ‘Me’ first attitude of some or most drivers (d) Jumping lanes by ‘Me’ first drivers and Taxi drivers (e) Taxis and buses stopping in the middle of the road to let off or pick up passengers (f) Vehicles not stopping before entrance to in-roads and fuel stations, if the drivers see traffic ahead has stopped. It blocks the opposite flow of traffic if some vehicle intends to cross into the in-roads or fuel stations.
Suggestions to tackle Nos b, c, d, e and f had been given to the Police Traffic branch a number of times BUT! As to the foremost problem, No (a) suggestions for fly-overs at a number of places had been given to Ms. Roshan Warjri a long time ago, when she was the Urban Affairs Minister. Fly-over from Police Bazar by the side of United Bank, to Bara Bazar/Sweeper’s Lane would have accommodated the vendors as well because a double-deck fly-over was suggested. The upper for vehicles, the lower for pedestrians and vendors!
Of course some suggestions were implemented such as the walk-over connecting Main Secretariat with Additional Secretariat. This has greatly reduced hold-up of traffic due to staff and public crossing from one building to the other during office hours. This walk-over could have been a better looking structure if constructed like the computer drawing submitted to the Chief Minister’s Office when Mr DD Lapang was the Chief Minister.
Other suggestions included a one way traffic in front of Main Secretariat and around and parking area opposite District Council. However, a fly-over from there to Lukier road was not constructed. This could have relieved some congestion at the Police point. Maybe a bifurcating fly-over from there towards District Council to open at the bus stop could be constructed. This will relieve hold up of up going traffic.
A fly over from the side of Rap’s Mansion is a bad idea. How will a fly-over along Keating road be constructed? This can only be one lane. The original suggestion was for a road from where the Bar Association building is now, towards and behind the main Post Office to become a fly-over towards Police Bazar to connect with the main road where Crowborough building is now. A bifurcation towards and behind MiCasa Hotel over the stream and along the foot hill of Lady Keane College to connect with a 3 tier parking at the side of United Bank Police Bazar and from there to become one with a fly-over from Main road Police Bazar next to United Bank and towards Bara Bazar/ Sweeper’s lane.
The suggestion for a fly-over at Dhankheti over the Police point with a pedestrian crossing below was replaced by a walk over, which pedestrians hardly use. Just a waste of money.
Many more suggestions can be given but what’s the point. Fly-overs can still be constructed over cross roads, over and above roads where they are wide. Better traffic management can be done. It was also suggested that shared taxis should ply only on the left side of the road wherever it is wide. Traffic Police should direct potential passengers to wait only at the designated embarkation points.
If road expansion is to be started then please start with the roads around Garrison ground, where encroachment by the cantonment is evident. Along the main road, the foot-path used to be inside the line of the row of pine trees and the sides of the road in line with the road next to the Army Officers Quarter after General’s point. The main road has narrowed significantly at General’s point. The wall next to the road leading to Laban has jutted towards the road right up to the corner opposite the Police point, enclosing the tree at the corner which used to be outside the border of the ground. The foot-path used to be between the tree and the boundary.
Yours etc.
- Rangad
Via email