The State government has informed that a blueprint to decongest Shillong has been prepared by its Home Department in consultation with various other departments and based on a report submitted by Dalberg Global Development Advisors in January 2021.
According to the State government, Dalberg Global is an internationally renowned traffic management consultant.
This was informed by the State government to the division bench of Meghalaya High Court today during the hearing of a PIL filed by local lawyer Philip Khrawbok Shati on the worsening traffic situation in Shillong city.
Advocate General Amit Kumar told the High Court that the detailed blueprint, a copy of which has been filed in court, has been forwarded to the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong for its opinion, advice and suggestions.
The blueprint is broadly based on four binding principles and components dealing with augmentation of the network capacity, increasing the supply of public transport, demand management and reducing the need for travelling.
Several finer aspects have also been detailed, beginning with the removal of road and footpath encroachment to introduction of bus corridors and setting up alternative modes of transport like a ropeway. A traffic management centre is also planned along with road network expansion and creation of city bypass roads.
Since a detailed plan of action has been prepared, though the funds necessary to undertake the project have not been indicated, the High Court expressed hope that some action will be taken after the response is received from IIM, Shillong.
“It is hoped that IIM, Shillong makes an appropriate assessment and suggests immediate and long-term measures that the State should take to ease the traffic situation in Shillong,” the High Court said.
Moreover, the court said road network expansion and creation of city by-pass roads must be taken up on an urgent basis as such exercises will take considerable time.
The High Court also decided to hear the matter after a fortnight after the Puja vacation, particularly to ascertain the response of IIM, Shillong to the blueprint that has been prepared. The matter has been listed for hearing on October 28.
