A bumpy ride to nowhere
Shillong, the Scotland of the East is enjoying the monsoon, albeit with a record deficit, but even with less than half of the normal downpour this year, the civic deficiencies of this city have been exposed in a big way.
If you’ve driven here lately, you know the roads aren’t just bad; they’re tracks laid out for the Pothole Derby that can seriously challenge Formula 1.
Take the Upper Shillong stretch, for instance. The road from Rilbong to Baniun was supposed to be a shiny four-lane paved miracle, but it’s more like a lunar landscape after a meteor shower.
The government keeps promising repairs but the road sounds more like a bad delivery—delayed, damaged, and full of holes.
The roads in the city make you question your suspension, your bones and the concept of civil engineering.
The PWD, tasked with the noble mission of keeping Shillong’s roads navigable, seems to have taken a vow of creative chaos instead.
Perhaps the PWD wants to retain the old-world charm of Shillong by constantly making us realize that we are in 1950 and not 2025. Or perhaps this is all about “pothole economics” that supports a thriving ecosystem of local businesses like tyre shops, car washes, and repair workshops.
It could also be that the PWD isn’t just building roads (or not building them, as the case may be); they’re building character. Shillongites are known for their grit, patience, and ability to laugh in the face of adversity. How else would we cultivate these virtues without roads that test our tempers?
Or finally, may be because the government is preparing us for some tough off-road challenge?
All in all, the SJ team acknowledges the challenges faced by the PWD, including funding constraints, difficult terrain, and heavy rainfall, but chooses to poke fun at the situation because “laughter is the best way to navigate a bumpy road”.
Pedestrians deserve a neater walkway
Treading through the crowd at Police Bazar earlier rarely gave anyone a chance to notice the tiled floor beneath their feet. But now, as the space begins to clear, the ground we walk on is finally coming into view — a change from the usual sight of countless shoes shuffling by throughout the day.
While the pathway is indeed paved with tiles, years of neglect have left many sections in disrepair — some areas are in such poor condition they’re practically crying out for replacement.
With the government now envisioning the pedestrianisation of Khyndai Lad, these broken tiles are bound to attract a few loathsome glances, turning them into yet another “beautification” task waiting to be tackled. If the revamp does happen though, it could elevate Khyndai Lad into an even more appealing destination than it already is. All we can do right now is wait to see how the story unfold.