By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Keeping its word, the Shillong Traffic police is dealing stringently with vehicles that tend to overtake during traffic snarls which further worsens the traffic situation.
SP (City) M Kharkrang has informed that the traffic police in the last seven days have detained as many as 27 light vehicles for over taking during traffic jams.
The Shillong Traffic police earlier issued a warning to all the commuters not to overtake during traffic jams as this only adds to the congestion.
Overtaking by errant drivers is believed to be the most common cause of traffic jams in the city as well as on the highways.
The STP also earlier threatened to issue summon slips to errant drivers who force their way during traffic jams. The STP has already warned that the violators will be forwarded to court if they fail to appear before the police after being issued the summons slip.
According to Kharkrang, an amount of Rs 11,300 has been realized as fine from errant drivers over the last two weeks.
The traffic police have reiterated their appeal to cooperate by not overtaking during traffic jams, stating that police will put all out effort to clear the jams as soon as possible.
However, it is observed that errant drivers still take advantage and often overtake in those stretches where no traffic personnel are posted to manage the traffic.
On Monday many vehicles were over taking from Military Hospital stretch till Anjalee Petrol pump since the traffic sleuths are posted only in the traffic junctions.
The appeal from the STP not to overtake came in view of the analysis which indicates that the recent traffic jams could have been cleared by traffic police within a reasonable time but because of overtaking by errant drivers the congestion takes hours to clear.
Another feature is the reckless parking of vehicles in some areas of the city particularly along the Umpling Road from Nongthymmai down towards Rynjah and on the road leading to IIM Shillong. Parking along narrow lanes obstructs the smooth flow of traffic, most commuters feel.
“Those who park by the side of the road, even in areas designated as no parking by some localities should be heavily fined by the STP,” commuters observed.