SHILLONG, April 1: Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Friday batted for car-pooling and introduction of school buses as the need of the hour to address the perennial problem of traffic congestion in the capital city but at the same cautioned that a convergence of mind of all stakeholders was needed to ensure that the project does not turn into a failure.
“We have to ensure convergence of mind and thought among the stakeholders so that this project does not turn into a failure by compounding the traffic problem instead of smoothening it,” Rymbui.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had announced during the budget session of the Assembly that a fleet of electric buses will be introduced for public transport in addition to a pool school bus system with a fleet size of around 100 mini-buses to address the traffic woes.
Rymbui said the biggest issue that has to be sorted out before acquiring the fleet of buses is the parking place.
“We have to ensure the embarking and disembarking points since most of the space is already occupied. Where will the buses drop and pick up students and where will they park after the school duty? In Laitumkhrah defence and police school buses park near the Grotto till the classes get over,” he observed.
He also pointed out that the school buses cannot ply through the arterial roads and parents will have to accompany the children.
“These are some of the challenges I foresee but together with the school authorities, traffic police, district administration and the village Dorbar some solution could be found,” he added.
Admitting that the CM came out with the proposal since the government was concerned over the growing traffic menace, Rymbui said, “We will find ways and means to implement the project. The issues I have flagged are real and have to be addressed but I hope with everyone’s cooperation we will be able to successfully implement it.”