SHILLONG: A new study by the government has indicated that the number of vehicles on city roads will double in the next seven years.
The study is alarming as roads in Shillong are already chock-a-block and authorities concerned are struggling to ease the congestion.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday said the traffic problem would escalate fast in the coming years. “So the government has come up with short, medium and long term policies to address the issue,” he said.
In the short term, the government has asked the traffic department to ensure that people don’t park vehicles carelessly and there is a check on road rogues. Besides, the government has increased the manpower by deploying home guards.
In the medium term, the government has identified 18 choking points to decongest traffic. It will also look into the possibility of widening the roads at those choking points
In the long run, the chief minister stressed on the need to have multiple entry points to the city, be it in Upper Shillong, Laitkor or Mawlai, while designating proper parking system in the city.