SHILLONG: One of the worst roads in Shillong city today is the less than half a kilometer road linking Goralane in Laitumkhrah (Nongrimmaw) to the MES Office, at Spread Eagle Falls. Commuters feel that it is a matter of time when some heavily laden vehicle turns turtle there.
This link road between Laitumkhrah, Nongrim Hills, Umpling and beyond has been lying in a decrepit condition over the last 8-10 months. The rains have only worsened its condition.
Apparently there is a tug of war between the State PWD and the MES as to whose brief it is to repair this road. A group of journalists visited Goralane on Wednesday and found that the road looks like it has been bombed and has become extremely hazardous for vehicles, especially two wheelers and for pedestrians alike, since there are crater sized holes all over.
A resident of the locality while speaking to journalists said that it feels like the road has become an orphan with both MES and State Government passing the buck over each other on who should repair it as till date there is no clarity on who owns the road.
“This road is located right in the heart of the city and it is shameful not only for residents but for the entire Shillong that the road is in such a terrible condition,” the resident added.
Another resident said that the road is a busy thoroughfare and vehicles have to maneuver very carefully because of the crater sized holes and the steepness of the road.
Another resident said that the dilapidated condition of the road gives a bad impression about the capital city and the MLA representing this constituency.
This reporter spoke to local legislator, Ampareen Lyngdoh who said she had taken up the matter in the recently concluded Assembly session and the PWD Minister had assured that the matter will be looked into. Meanwhile the road condition is deteriorating by the day.
Ampareen also informed that she held a review meeting with PWD officials on Wednesday and she was informed that the government intends to construct the road with inter-locked tiles.
She also maintained that if the government does not take necessary measures then she would have to sacrifice the MLA scheme by doing mere patchwork to mend the potholes.
She also said that she is unsure as to whether the MES or the state government should repair the road.
Residents pointed out that the road has been in a bad shape for the past several months when Ampareen Lyngdoh was a minister in the previous government so it would be unfair to blame the present government for not repairing the road.
It may be mentioned that this road does not have storm drains at the sides hence the running water during the rainy season carries away all the macadamized black-topping.
