What happened to our roads?
“Nature is full of secrets, and the rain is always trying to tell you something, so listen.”
This quote could not have been more apt for Shillong and certain ills that have marred the city.
With the monsoon rain lashing Shillong since early June, residents have been given partial respite from the record-breaking power outage that lasted for months. While load-shedding is certainly not over, the Rain Gods may be thanked for filling up Umiam and improving power generation.
However, on the flip side, the rainfall has left exposed the pathetic quality of road construction and repair work in the city and its surroundings.
Many roads in the Pine City have deteriorated and in some cases, the top layer has been washed off.
The busiest road passing through the heart of the city till Laitkor has worn down in several areas and has developed potholes, Similarly, the road from Mawlai Mawroh to Mawlai Umshing, that was repaired quite haphazardly some time ago when an important sports activity was organised in NEHU, is now dotted with potholes.
Even the road next to NEHU connecting to the Mawlai Bypass now bears a ragged look.
Another road connecting Lachumiere to Dhankheti and the Boucher Road are well past their best look and the number of potholes is growing thick and fast.
The highway from Rilbong Bridge to the Shillong Peak junction, and slightly beyond, also has a number of potholes much to the dismay of tourists who are in a hurry to reach their chosen spots and often fail to negotiate these cavities which our local cabbies and vehicle owners have learnt by rote.
We often blame the innocent rain for the deterioration of roads in the city, but are yet to pin the blame on the concerned department and the contractors whose quality and experience are put to the test every time the Rain Gods bless us.
