That Shillong is a city that is finding it difficult to cope with traffic jams is no surprise and no secret anymore.
A favourite topic to bemoan by the citizenry, even the Meghalaya High Court has lashed the state government for a perceived lack of action on the issue.
The state government, however, has argued that it has little room to act. Widening roads in the small and congested hill town is near impossible, so too the thought of flyovers. But even in areas where it can act the government appears unwilling – pedestrians are not encouraged by the city’s existing footpaths and pavements that are in a desultory and ill-lit (at night) condition and the bus system is a shambles, with what should be a public service farmed out on the cheap to supposed self-help groups.
At least when it comes to police, it is hoped that a recruitment drive, the first in 10 years, will ease the burden of overseeing vehicular traffic.
At present, there are roughly 180 traffic police in Shillong city but there are also 170 traffic points, which stretches out the force available, even if the police are supplemented by Home Guards and Civil Defence. Politicians and Dorbar Shnongs also periodically appeal for postings at new points, further putting pressure on the force.
“Private cars, maxi cabs and government cars have increased but the roads have not increased, so there’s no way for us to divert the traffic,” an official said. “The cars that are coming into the city are from all of the districts. Then there are tourist vehicles and to top it all the two wheelers. We don’t have a separate lane where we can direct two wheelers to ply. So all these issues add up to the traffic congestion in the city.”
Another official also felt that if an odd-even system of vehicle management can be imposed for all vehicles then there might be an improvement. However, that would leave commuters and taxi drivers in a tight spot, especially in the busy commercial areas of Police Bazar and Ïewduh.
The manpower shortage among the traffic police is expected to reduce after a month or so. The last recruitment was carried out in 2012 and since then there have been transfers but no replacements.
