SHILLONG, April 11: Traffic woes of Shillong is not merely about the perennial snarls but also about rising road accidents, lack of enforcement and a palpable lack of awareness about traffic rules and road signage.
To address the issue, Rotary Club of Shillong has taken a small step in putting up a billboard displaying all road signage at the DTO office here last week.
The Club also proposes to take the next step of creating a Traffic Park in Shillong for familiarising children and motorists alike with traffic rules both for vehicles and pedestrians.
The Traffic Park will also aid district authorities to take elaborate tests before issuing driving licenses.
According to Rotary Club President, Arundhati Paul, the Club is expected to move the government for a piece of land for the Traffic Park as a long-term investment towards making adherence to traffic rules.
The idea was welcomed by the DTO, D Lamin, who felt that creation of a Traffic Park would help the authorities to take more elaborate test of driving skills before awarding driving license to new applicants.
In this regard, Lamin disclosed that his office was hugely handicapped for want of manpower.
Elaborating, he said that for over two lakh registered vehicles in East Khasi Hills, there was only one Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) and as many Enforcement Inspectors (EI).
It is learnt that despite repeated requests, the Meghalaya Public Service Commission has not been able to recruit new MVI and EI. The proposal has been hanging for more than two years.