Editor,
The news “Police crackdown on traffic indiscipline in East Khasi Hills” (ST January 13, 2026) is newsworthy. Fines can be an effective deterrent for traffic violations because they impose a clear, immediate financial cost on offenders, making risky behaviour less attractive. However, fines alone are not always sufficient; their effectiveness increases when combined with consistent enforcement, penalty points, and public awareness campaigns. Why do fines work as a deterrent? Unlike warnings, fines create tangible penalties that drivers feel right away. It is an economic disincentive and people generally avoid behaviours that could lead to financial loss.
Fines can be adjusted depending on the severity of the violation (e.g., speeding vs. drunk driving). Public knowledge of stricter fines often discourages violations, as drivers perceive high risk. There are limitations of fines and research shows fines alone have low elasticity which means drivers don’t always change behaviour just because fines increase. If drivers aren’t caught, fines lose deterrent power. There is also a socio-economic bias as wealthier drivers may not feel the sting of fines, while poorer drivers may be disproportionately burdened.
The best practices for using fines are to combine with the points system by linking fines to license suspension and increasing deterrence. Automated enforcement such as cameras and smart systems ensures consistent application of fines. Higher fines can be reserved for repeat offenders or dangerous violations like drunk driving. Announcing stricter fines raises awareness and compliance. Fines are a strong deterrent because they impose immediate financial consequences, but they work best when paired with consistent enforcement, license penalties and awareness campaigns. Alone, they risk being ignored or unevenly felt across society.
The East Khasi Hills police department has rightly declared a zero-tolerance policy for illegal parking and lane driving which is sane and prohibits unsafe overtaking and reckless driving. The East Khasi Hills SP has rightly requested the public to cooperate for safety and smooth movement of vehicles. It is important to note that fines are designed to be a reminder to drive responsibly and to instil discipline among motorists. By imposing fines, the government aims to create a safety conscious driving culture and to ensure that all road users respect traffic laws and contribute to road safety.
Yours etc;
VK Lyngdoh
Shillong
The Funeral of Shortwave
Editor,
As we continue to dig deeper into Prasar Bharati’s intentions, while we in Shillong have been pleading for the restoration of our regional shortwave transmitters since 2019, documentary evidence from other parts of the country exposes a stark reality. The silence is not just neglect, it is an active, logistical liquidation of our broadcasting heritage. Documents regarding the High Power Transmitter (HPT) station of Akashvani in Malad (West), Mumbai, serve as a chilling blueprint of what is likely planned for our own infrastructure in the Northeast. First, the “Scrap” Label. In July 2022, Prasar Bharati initiated an auction (No. HPT/Malad/1(10)2021-22/E/Auction) to dispose of what they officially termed “Defective/Surplus/Obsolete old 50 kW SW (HMB 144) & 100 kW SW (BBC SK 51F3) transmitter equipment.” The auction explicitly categorized these strategic assets as “Scrap material” comprising “mix ms, iron, copper, aluminium”, where “ms” means “metals”. The estimated value put on this erasure of history was a mere Rs 58,21,107.
It is heartbreaking to see powerful 50 kW and 100 kW Shortwave transmitters, capable of bridging vast distances, reduced to a line item of “ferrous and non-ferrous metal waste”. Second, The Physical Dismantling. The policy did not stop at selling the electronics. Two months later, a tender enquiry (File No: 1(11)/2022-2023/E/Feeder Line/483) was issued on September 2, 2022, for the “Cutting of GI feeder Pole & Pully Block Structure”. The scope of work was brutal and final. “Cutting of GI feeder Pole from bottom of the pole” in the aerial field of the 50 kW SW & 100 kW SW transmitters. The destruction involved cutting down 25 poles (heights of 10 ft and 14.5 ft) and dismantling 6 Pulley Block Structures used for the antenna counterweights. Last and a Warning for the Northeast, this “Malad Model”, auctioning transmitters as scrap and cutting feeder poles from the bottom, is likely the same fate awaiting the NES shortwave infrastructure in Shillong, if it has not happened already.
While we ask for upgrades to a new 50kW shortwave and DRM transmitter, the administration is busy calculating the scrap value of copper and iron. If 50 kW and 100 kW transmitters in a metro city like Mumbai are deemed “obsolete” and sold on an “As is where is” basis, what hope is given to the regional transmitters in the Northeast? These documents prove that the 2014-2019 shutdown of regional shortwave radio was not a pause for maintenance, but a preamble to permanent destruction. We must demand transparency. Are the NES shortwave towers in Shillong still standing tall, or have they too been marked for “cutting from the bottom?” We refuse to let our regional identity be sold off as scrap.
Yours etc.,
Hamemanbha Lyngdoh
Lawai,
Via email
On Road Safety
Editor,
Through your esteemed daily, I wish to draw attention to the pressing issue of road safety, which is intricately linked to the physical and psychological fitness of drivers. The alarming rise in road accidents necessitates urgent measures to ensure that drivers of commercial buses and passenger-carrier vehicles are fit to operate these vehicles safely.
I humbly urge the authorities to consider introducing mandatory fitness camps for drivers in our state. These camps, organized by District Transport Offices, should assess drivers’ alertness, reflexes, vision, hearing, stress levels, and mental readiness at regular intervals.
The absence of such assessments puts passengers and other road users at risk. It is equally crucial to educate drivers about safe driving practices, professionalism, and public safety. Regular awareness sessions on traffic rules, stress management, and substance abuse prevention can significantly mitigate road accidents.
Furthermore, providing guidance on financial planning and welfare schemes can enhance drivers’ overall well-being and work efficiency.
The implementation of these measures can substantially enhance road safety, reduce accidents, and save precious lives.
Yours etc,
Krishnendu Deb,
Shillong -4
