SHILLONG: While several consultations, meetings, proposals and ideas have been discussed since years to ease the traffic congestion in Shillong town, in reality Shillongites are yet to get a respite from the traffic jam that is getting compounded every passing day.
On Monday, there was huge traffic jam in the city and on several occasion, it was seen that even ambulances were stuck in the clogged roads until traffic cops and good Samaritans helped the ambulances to negotiate their way amidst the long rush of traffic in the town.
Several Governments in the past including the incumbent Government have held consultations on how to ease the traffic jam in the city but the traffic snarls continue to be a major problem in the lives of officer goers, students and shopkeepers
East Khasi Hills SP, Davis Marak said that there was no specific reason for the traffic jam on Monday as Shillong city usually witnesses heavy traffic jam on Mondays and Fridays.
He also said that police have submitted few proposals to the State Government which is expected to solve the traffic jam and now it depends on the State Government as to whether it would act on the proposals or not.
Earlier in March this year, Meghalaya Government has sought feedback from various line departments to sort out the growing traffic menace in Shillong.
Since ages, there were plans to expand some roads in the city besides there were also plans to construct fly overs in the congested town but such plans have ended only in mere discussions due to various challenges of land and other logistical problems.
Right now, Shillong police is somehow managing the situation by making several roads as one way besides it is also putting up board with a word “Don’t Overtake”.
Earlier this year, it was also informed that a feasibility study on traffic congestion in this city is likely to be undertaken by PADECO, a consultant firm of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. But it is not yet known if such exercise has been conducted here.
Some senior leaders also feel that there are many locations in the city where roads can be expanded. Veteran politician Bind M Lining, who once had stressed on the need to part away some land from Raj Bhawna still feels that some land can be taken from Raj Bhawna and even Wards Lake to expand the road.
The idea of expanding road by parting away some land from the State Central Library was also taken up with the Arts and Culture Minister in a casual talk and he also appreciated the idea saying it was a good suggestion.