SHILLONG, Aug 12: The number of accidents along the Shillong-Guwahati highway (NH-6) has been normalised. Those frequenting this highway rue the fact that vehicles are overtaking any which way they choose.
With trucks occupying the right lane or partially blocking the road, many smaller vehicles attempt to pass from the left, a maneuver prohibited under the Motor Vehicles Act.
Section 14 of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017, has clear rules on overtaking. It says: A motor vehicle shall not overtake any other road user unless it is safe and not in violation of the provisions of the Act or the rules made thereunder or any other law for the time being in force; a vehicle shall be overtaken only from the right side; a vehicle may be overtaken from the left, if – the vehicle which is to overtake and the vehicle which is to be overtaken are both driving on a multi-lane road and the vehicle ahead can be safely overtaken in a marked lane to the left of the vehicle being overtaken; the vehicle to be overtaken is either turning right or making a ‘U’ turn from the centre of the road and is giving a signal to turn and it would be safe to overtake it from the left; or the vehicle to be overtaken is stationary and it is safe to pass it from the left.
Left-side overtaking drastically increases the risk of collisions, especially when trucks suddenly pull out without signalling, or when smaller vehicles enter the driver’s blind spot.
Haphazard parking and roadside halts by trucks are a common sight in areas such as Umran, Umdihar, Shangbangla, Umling, 20 Mile Pahammawlein, and along the stretch from Byrnihat to Jorabat. These vehicles often occupy portions of the carriageway, sometimes encroaching dangerously close to the central lane, thereby obstructing traffic and increasing the risk of accidents.
Many truck drivers reportedly stop on the expressway for meals, rest, or personal reasons, with little regard for road safety. While some stoppages may be caused by mechanical issues, most appear to stem from a lack of driving discipline. There have been instances of fatal accidents caused by stationary trucks on the highway, underscoring the serious threat posed to other road users.
One of the most affected sections is the Byrnihat-Jorabat corridor, where hundreds of trucks are frequently lined up along one side of the road. This is primarily due to “No Entry” restrictions imposed on heavy vehicles entering Assam during specific hours. However, the absence of designated truck lay-bys or parking zones in the area forces drivers to halt along the expressway itself.
The situation has caused serious inconvenience to the public. A road originally intended to improve interstate connectivity has now become a traffic bottleneck and a safety hazard. Daily commuters—including emergency service vehicles and commercial transporters—often find themselves stuck in slow-moving or blocked traffic, particularly at night, from 13 Mile Byrnihat up to Khanapara.
As of now, no concrete measures have been taken by the authorities to address this issue. There is a pressing need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules, the creation of dedicated truck parking areas, and coordinated efforts between the Meghalaya and Assam police as well as their respective transport departments to resolve this recurring problem at the interstate border.
The Shillong Times spoke to Senior Superintendent of Police of Ri-Bhoi, Vivekananda Singh Rathore about the invisible highway patrol meant to reduce accidents. His response was: “Highway patrol vehicles are deployed. One car is deployed in Byrnihat–Lad Umroi section and another one in Lad Umroi-Umroi section. Apart from that, mobile patrolling is done on a daily basis by concerned field units in their respective jurisdictions.”
When asked why trucks are parked by the side of the road from Byrnihat up to Jorabat thereby reducing the size of the road, Rathore says, “There is NO ENTRY enforced by Guwahati Police which leads to congestion in Jorabat-Byrnihat stretch. There are no parking lots in the area.”
He, however, added that although enforcement is regularly done but it can be improved with more available manpower.
Drivers, however, feel that there is too little traffic supervision which has prompted some to violate all the rules. They believe that heavy fines would reduce such violations.
