Editor,
The news item, “Shillong at Standstill etc.” (ST, Feb 12, 2026), once again underscores the hardships citizens endure due to frequent traffic congestion in Shillong, with no clear solutions in sight. However, the relative ease of driving on most Shillong roads during the schools’ winter break, when congestion was markedly reduced, offered a revealing contrast. This strongly suggests that the daily practice of individually dropping off and picking up students when school reopens is one of the major contributors to the city’s traffic woes. Once the congestion starts during the morning hours, it often cascades through the day and well into the evening hours.
One of the possible remedies generally expressed is the introduction of school buses, and this is reinforced by the generally positive response to the STEM bus service in ferrying students. The logic is simple: one bus carrying several dozen students can replace many private vehicles. Even accounting for some carpooling, the potential reduction of congestion by these buses could be substantial.
While introducing school buses could be a possible remedy, deploying multiple buses along Shillong’s predominantly double-lane roads may create new challenges, such as difficulties in overtaking amid steady oncoming traffic. This may potentially add to the congestion instead of easing it. Therefore, if school buses are introduced, a phase-wise approach may be adopted. Larger schools which draw students from multiple parts of the city and whose students’ reliance on private vehicles contributes most to traffic congestion should typically be prioritised for the introduction of school buses, with gradual implementation and continuous assessment of traffic conditions before scaling up.
Meanwhile, the state government seems inclined to expand the fleet of STEM buses. While this may be considered a proactive move, it could also signal a reluctance or inability to urge large schools to assume this responsibility themselves. Relying on government-run transport risks shifting accountability away from institutions that may be fully capable of doing this themselves. Across Indian cities, many large schools own and successfully manage their own school bus services.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the government has encouraged schools to operate buses or whether school authorities are unwilling to assume this role. Parents also seem to have shown limited collective support. This lack of transparency has left the public largely uninformed.
However, the impact of school buses in reducing congestion will remain limited if vehicle numbers continue to grow unchecked. Even infrastructure measures such as flyovers, underground roads, and road widening, if ever feasible, or a new Shillong township, can provide only temporary relief if the growth of vehicles persists. Traffic personnel will have limited capacity to control once roads reach saturation, and regulatory measures like the odd-even rule will lose effectiveness over time. Therefore, addressing congestion without regulating vehicle ownership is akin to treating the symptoms while ignoring the root cause.
Singapore’s Vehicle Quota System (VQS) provides a model for controlling vehicle growth by capping new vehicle ownership through a competitive bidding system for Certificates of Entitlement, which is aligned with limited road capacity. The scheme has become a cornerstone of the city’s traffic management strategy and has encouraged commuters to use the city’s efficient public transport systems.
While the Singapore model may not be directly applicable here, a more practical local measure would be to link vehicle registration to proof of an available parking space within the applicant’s premises or at a designated facility. Such a measure can be adopted in consultation with the relevant local authorities.
Currently, many registered vehicles are seen parked overnight along tight single-lane roads in many Shillong localities due to the lack of adequate parking facilities.This causes inconvenience to commuters and restricts emergency access. Moreover, these vehicles add to the congestion when they enter the city roads. Linking vehicle registration to proof of parking availability would discourage excessive vehicle ownership and help reduce congestion. However, implementing such a policy will require strong political will and the ability to overlook entrenched business interests.
Overall, with coordinated and sustained action, Shillong’s traffic congestion can be reduced and prevented from worsening. Beyond other indeterminate measures, mandating school bus transport for large institutions and regulating vehicle registration in line with road and parking capacity are possible solutions, provided these are introduced and enforced. Equally important is sustained civic engagement on the matter, with constructive suggestions on appropriate platforms to build consensus and pressure.
Yours etc.,
K L Tariang,
Via email
Disruptions to Global AI Summit
Editor,
The recently concluded AI summit at Bharat Mandapam positioned India at the center of the global artificial intelligence conversation. With leaders, innovators, and policymakers gathering to discuss governance, infrastructure, and ethical AI, the event signaled ambition and intent. Announcements regarding expanded GPU capacity by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and the keynote presence of Bill Gates reinforced India’s aspiration to become a serious AI powerhouse.
However, the summit was not without turbulence. The controversy involving Galgotia University, widely reported by Reuters, has raised uncomfortable questions about academic credibility and oversight. If reports suggesting misrepresentation of a robotic exhibit are accurate, this episode risks denting the integrity of an event meant to showcase innovation and transparency.
Equally concerning was the traffic chaos that unfolded across central Delhi during the summit. Commuters faced severe delays, diversions, and last minute route changes. While large international events inevitably disrupt city movement, better public advisories and coordinated planning could have mitigated the inconvenience to residents. Progress cannot come at the cost of public patience.
India’s AI moment is real and significant. Yet global leadership in technology demands more than grand announcements. It requires institutional accountability, operational efficiency, and respect for citizens’ daily lives. As we champion artificial intelligence for governance and urban management, perhaps the first test lies closer to home: using data driven planning to manage our own events seamlessly.
The summit was a bold step forward. Let the lessons learned ensure that future milestones reflect not just ambition, but excellence in execution.
Yours etc.,
Shivani Pde,
Via email
Strengthening Emergency Communication
Editor,
The recent security concerns in the Garo Hills have once again brought the technical limitations of our regional communication infrastructure into sharp focus. While the transition of The North Eastern Service (NES) Of Akashvani to a 100W FM radio transmitter may seem modern, it has created a significant “coverage gap” for most sensitive border areas. Unlike FM radio, which relies on Line-of-Sight (LoS) propagation and is easily blocked by the rugged terrain of Meghalaya, shortwave radio utilises Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) propagation. By reflecting signals off the ionosphere at near-vertical angles, NVIS provides a “blanket” of coverage that “rains down” into deep valleys and behind mountain ridges. This makes it immune to the “shadow zones” that render 100W FM radio transmitters useless in remote parts of Meghalaya.
By decommissioning the 50kW shortwave radio transmitter in 2019, we have sacrificed a resilient, terrain-independent communication system for a fragile, LoS one. For effective civil defense and emergency preparedness, it is essential that NES should be restored on shortwave radio. We need an infrastructure that can bypass local network failures and terrain obstacles to reach every citizen instantly.
Yours etc.,
Hamemanbha Lyngdoh Lawai,
Via email
