SHILLONG: Most of the city roads are a paragon of neglect especially the ones covering localities which are often rough and full of potholes causing inconvenience for both vehicles and pedestrians.
With the recent heavy showers in the city, the condition of the roads has not been spared. To add to the pathetic appearance of the roads, littering and overflowing drains are common.
The Upland Road in Laitumkhrah is one of the many dilapidated roads in the city. The stretch between Don Bosco Square and the Health complex intersection is full of potholes and water patches. This has resulted in inconvenience for vehicles and pedestrians in their everyday commute.
The residents of the area have also complained that it is difficult to walk on the road without having to be cautious of dog excrements. As the road is already too narrow, pedestrians would not only have to avoid the vehicles approaching but also have to cautious of dog excreta.
“People should be urged to let their pets defecate in their own yards and not the roads. Drivers too should be patient because the same way that they want to avoid pot holes, the pedestrians also want to avoid stepping on excrement,” a concerned resident said.
Further, a drain which flows down onto the road from the building opposite to St Margret’s School is often seen to be overflowing with kitchen waste and rotten vegetables causing foul smell in the area.
Despite being made into a one-way road, residents often spot bikes and scooters travelling in both directions at times causing havoc for pedestrians.
Another concern raised by residents of the area is that many times vehicles move at high speed forgetting that there is a school on the same road posing danger to school children. Hence, some have suggested that the road should be closed during school opening and closing times.
Another issue faced by pedestrians in the area is that a part of the road situated directly behind St. Anthony’s College is often used as a parking spot causing much traffic in the already narrow road leaving pedestrians with little pavement to walk on.
