By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 18: The prolonged monsoon that battered Shillong for months has left many important roads in the state capital in a deteriorated condition, with several requiring immediate repair.
The Boucher Road, which connects GS Road with Rhino Point, now has more potholes than road surface, while the stretch at Qualapatty has also worsened. Similarly, several other roads, including internal locality roads across the city, are in urgent need of repair.
While such deterioration has become an annual occurrence in Shillong during the monsoon season, residents remain hopeful that the government will not wait until the end of the financial year to undertake repairs but act promptly to restore the roads.
Since this is also the tourist season, residents are urging the government to expedite repair work on these vital routes without delay.
Thana Road, once a well-used and vital stretch in the heart of Shillong, now stands as a glaring example of civic neglect. The entire road surface has deteriorated to the point where walking or driving through it feels like navigating an obstacle course.
The interlocking concrete blocks that make up the stretch have loosened and sunk unevenly, with several sections showing gaping holes and muddy patches. Cracked tiles and broken pavers have become a common sight, forcing motorists and pedestrians to tread with extreme caution.
In many areas, rainwater accumulates in the depressions, worsening the damage and making the surface slippery and unsafe.
Residents and shopkeepers in the area have repeatedly raised concerns about the worsening state of the road, which has remained unaddressed despite numerous appeals. The area houses key establishments, including the Congress Bhavan and several hotels, yet the lack of maintenance has left it in complete disrepair.
Despite being located in one of Shillong’s busiest areas, there has been no visible sign of repair or improvement work. What remains of Thana Road today is a broken pathway of loose tiles, dirt and neglect.
