Editor,
The Meghalaya High Court has taken a very strong stand against the inability of the State Government to regulate traffic and ensure that the commuting public is not put to inconvenience. IIM Shillong appears to have been tasked to come up with a blueprint to address the perennial traffic woes that afflict Shillongites on a daily basis. Most cities suffer the same predicament but nowhere does traffic come to a standstill as it does in Shillong City. Most of us know precisely what the reasons for the traffic jams are. Let me list them out one by one. First and foremost is the size of the roads which are in direct contrast to the size of the vehicles. The road size cannot be expanded because of the biggest elephant in the room – land belongs to the people and those land owners have themselves encroached towards the roads. Second, public roads are not meant for parking vehicles as this reduces the size of the road but try telling that to Shillongites many of whom own vehicles but have no parking space inside their compounds. There have been many suggestions that this with no parking spaces will not allowed to register their vehicles. But no government has had th spine to implement this important rider. Third, there are too many vehicles on the road during school hours in the morning and evening and during office hours too. These days even a peon drives to office in a car of his own. After all this is Socialism! But where are the parking spaces in the Secretariat or any other office? Most cares are therefore parked by the roadside.
There are far too many convoy vehicles following the Chief Minister and other VIPs even within city limits. Does the CM who travels in an e-vehicle need so many others cars behind him which create a traffic mess? Should leaders not lead by example? We Shillongites have had enough of this VIP culture. One day we might just revolt and bring all traffic to a standstill by sitting in the middle of the road at the Secretariat. Let us see which police force will dare tear gassing the irate public.
This has been stated ad nauseum and I am only repeating it. The schools located in and around Laitumkhrah and Dhankheti areas create the most traffic jams because these schools harbour the elite of Meghalaya’s society that have no dearth of SUVs. Ten or twelve years ago these schools were told to use school buses but no, they are adamant not so do so. Isn’t there a law that can tame such belligerence? Or is the entire establishment and administrative machinery and the politicians as well on the side of these schools because their wards study there? This class system in society is what creates lawlessness because the law is applied selectively.
There is a limit to how many taxis can be granted permits on the plea of livelihood. The State has a duty to ensure public order. Traffic jams add to chaos and public disorder. How many taxis can the Shillong roads take and also their indisciplined driving and stopping wherever they wish to allow disembark passengers to disembark.
Before I conclude let me also state here that the bad roads, full of potholes in the heart of Shillong city, especially in certain localities like Mawlai, Pynthorbah and Langkyrding slow down traffic. At Langkyrding right next to the BDW International school a small bridge which is less than 500 meters is being built. It is now over 8-10 months but the work continues. I can’t understand why it should take so long but this is Meghalaya where everything moves at snail’s pace. So woe on us commuters who have to get stuck at this place too every single day.
Unless the Government decides to take harsh steps like odd-even numbers plying on alternate days or reduce the number of taxis; stop roadside parking; expand the road size, insist on school buses, repairs all the roads and think of flyovers at vantage points, traffic chaos in Shillong will continue.
Yours etc.,
Delizia Sohtun,
Via email