SHILLONG, Sep 12: MLAs cutting across party lines on Monday expressed their concern over the traffic problem in Shillong and Tura.
On the second day of the autumn session of the Assembly, Trinamool Congress MLA George B Lyngdoh said they requested the government on several occasions to ensure that there are multiple approaches to and fro Shillong to decongest the city.
He observed that the traffic congestion in Shillong is eating away resources with the burning of more fossil fuel. It is also contributing to pollution, he said.
“We are denying people swift travel time. The problem is created by huge traffic congestion,” Lyngdoh said, adding students and their parents are at the receiving end.
Echoing a similar concern, his colleague HM Shangpliang said the state government is yet to come up with a blueprint or roadmap to address the problem.
He recalled that the High Court of Meghalaya had directed the government to come up with a blueprint as to how it wants to bring a change.
He reminded that the court had made a series of suggestions, including exploring of idea of having cable cars as a long-term solution.
“We really don’t know how the government wants to ease traffic congestion in the city,” Shangpliang said, adding there is anxiety and anger on the faces of parents when they drive to schools to drop their children.
Pointing out that many schools located in Laitumkhrah do not have a parking space, the Mawsynram MLA said the parents are left with no other option but to park their vehicle by the roadside.
He mentioned the state government had made statements that it will introduce electric pool buses. “When are those pool buses going to be introduced on the road? We heard the chief minister saying ‘we are going to buy 60 buses’. Where are the buses? What is the district administration doing? We would like to know how long we are going to face this,” Shangpliang said.
Joining the discussion, East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh suggested that the Transport department can examine having compulsory parking spaces for people wanting to buy vehicles.
“Everybody wants to buy a vehicle. We cannot deny them that right,” she said.
Another Trinamool MLA Zenith M Sangma said Tura too is facing this problem.
“It has become very difficult to commute in the state capital because of the rising number of vehicles. Not less than 150 new vehicles are hitting the road every month as per data collected from the banks which provide car loans,” he said.
Then, Sangma continued, there are people who buy used vehicles.
“How is the government planning to meet the challenges?” he asked.
Transport Minister Dasakhiat Lamare said he will not be able to reply on the issue as the matter is pending in the High Court.
East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh suggested the need for stringent action against traffic violators. She asked the Transport department to cancel the driving licences and vehicle registration of regular violators.
The Transport and Police departments should coordinate and keep a vigilant eye on these regular violators, the MLA said, lamenting that there was no visible action taken by the departments in this regard. She also highlighted the issue of underage driving in the capital town and questioned how police alone can handle such cases, especially when boys and girls in uniforms are driving.
Zenith questioned how minors were getting driving licences. “This is happening right under the very nose of the government,” he said, adding that the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act should be enforced.
In his reply, Dasakhiatbha said the department will try to introduce a system to deal with regular traffic offenders. “We can even cancel their licence and vehicle documents if they are found frequently violating the traffic norms,” he said.
Others, who took part in the short duration discussion, include Nongpoh MLA Mayralborn Syiem, Mawlai MLA PT Sawkmie, Trinamool MLA Lazarus Sangma and KHNAM MLA Adelbert Nongrum.
