Bike ride prompts Kohli to question Govt’s devp claim

SHILLONG: BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli on Saturday experienced the city’s infamous traffic snarl that prompted him to question the State Government’s development claims.
Kohli, who is also BJP in charge of Meghalaya, arrived in the city on Saturday to attend a programme at Assam House in Dhankheti. He reached the venue pillion-riding on a two-wheeler.
When media persons asked him about the “arrangement” of coming on a bike , a miffed Kohli said the traffic snarl was a nightmare and he was stuck in Barapani for more than one-and-a-half hours.
Finally, he sought help from a youth leader who dropped him to Assam House in Shillong on his bike from Umiam as he was getting late.
“One needs three hours from Barapani to reach Shillong city in a car. What development has taken place in Meghalaya,” he said and blamed the Government for the traffic mismanagement.
Congestion on city roads is nothing new and on Saturday, the launch of mission football and exhibition match at Polo Ground added to the woes.
A taxi driver said he took over one hour to travel from Rilbong Point to Rhino junction on Saturday evening .
Earlier, the BJP leader said many villages were being connected under the Pradhan Mantri Graham Sadak Yojana and the Union Government was also constructing highways in many states, be it ruled by BJP or any other party.
“In Shillong, people are still suffering because of poor connectivity,” he said.
“I must thank the Chief Minister as I enjoyed the ride though for wrong reasons and it took me back to my college days,” he said.