Shillong, Sept 23: The traffic congestion in Meghalaya’s “unplanned” state capital is due to shortage of traffic police personnel, poor infrastructure and vehicle overload.
The state capital’s narrow roads are bursting at its seams with traffic and therefore the State Planning Board (SPB) convened a meeting on Monday to find ways to ease traffic congestion.
SPB Chairman, Metbah Lyngdoh briefed the media after the meeting, and said some of the main causes of traffic congestion were identified and discussed.
He said: “Shillong is an unplanned city, no doubt about it. In 2018, I suggested to the previous government to develop a planned new city. The government has taken steps in that direction, but for now, we need to address the current situation in Shillong.”
One of the other triggers for the congestion is the acute shortage of traffic police personnel to man the roads. Lyngdoh informed that the police department has a shortage of traffic personnel, with only 150 assigned constables for all seven police stations in the state capital.
“This is inadequate. It was sufficient when there were only two or three police stations, but not with seven police stations now,” Lyngdoh said, adding the city relies on over 400 home guards.
“Traffic regulation is primarily the responsibility of the police, and more constables are urgently needed. The Board intends to recommend that the government address this shortage,” Lyngdoh said.
On the road infrastructure and vehicle overload in the state capital, which is another area of concern, Lyngdoh said, there is an imbalance between the number of roads and vehicles in Shillong.
“In the next meeting, we will have a detailed presentation from the PWD about the city’s infrastructure. Expert members of the Board will review the existing and planned projects to make informed recommendations,” he informed.
He however, lauded the Urban Affairs department’s implementation of the Sustainable Transport and Efficient Mobility Society. Under the scheme, schools buses have been provided by the government for school students.
“Instead of 12 or 13 cars, we now have one bus for transporting students. That model seems to be working well,” Lyngdoh noted.
When asked about the government’s commitment to action rather than just discussion, Lyngdoh clarified about the Board’s role.
“The job of the SPB is to recommend and suggest what needs to be done. It’s now up to the government to implement, approve, or take action on these recommendations,” the SPB Chairman said.
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