The state government needs to get an immediate grip on the problem of traffic congestion, which only seems to be getting worse and worse in Shillong, United Democratic Party leader Jemino Mawthoh has told Highland Post.
The unplanned nature of Shillong, coupled with narrow roads, hilly terrain and unique land tenure system make it difficult and expensive to widen roads, build new ones or construct flyovers.
In the absence of proper planning, traffic chaos in the state capital could one day lead to a collapse in the system if the government continues to take the matter lightly, Mawthoh said.
Only a few decades ago, Shillong’s streets were still largely free of private cars and that was the time that the government should have taken up the issue instead of waiting for the disaster to strike, he added. “We lack the farsightedness and now the problem has compounded and it is not an easy thing to bring an overnight solution to the traffic chaos that is increasing day by day.”
The government is hoping that when it moves much of the government machinery to the New Shillong Township, this will reduce traffic in Shillong proper and also allow the government to widen roads in parts. However, Mawthoh warned that the NST could face the same fate as the old Shillong if the traffic disorder is not regulated.
Stating that the need of the hour is a swift multi-pronged approach, he said, “If you are saying there’s a need to shift government offices then do it. If we say there are still many routes that can be created through the Shillong Peak range then we need to immediately talk with the government of India and the defence authorities because if we have the ring roads then this problem can be resolved somehow.”
He also opined that public transport is still of a poor quality; if it were improved, the public would be drawn to it and this would reduce traffic.
“A time may come when we have to abandon the private small vehicles and the government may have to take a bold decision that only the public transportation can ply in the city,” he said.
