Roads are the mainstay of transportation, travel, and trade in Meghalaya because, apart from roads, there are very few avenues for air travel in the state, except for occasional flights from the Shillong Airport in Umroi.
When it comes to rail connectivity, there is no railway because of opposition by civil society to the introduction of the railway line.
The MDA government has tried its best to improve roads across the state, especially state highways and even National Highways.
The construction of the four-lane road from Umshyrpi to Seven Mile, Upper Shillong, has been going on smoothly to connect an improved two-lane road to Dawki.
When it comes to the construction of this road, there are parts where work is going fast, and there are parts where it is too slow. This has prompted government officials to invite NHIDCL officials from time to time to discuss how to speed up the process.
However, as of now, the construction of this road has affected traffic, and sometimes people take hours to get from Upper Shillong to Shillong and even for those who return to their villages after completing their work in Shillong.
The traffic jam in Upper Shillong has affected not only the area but the entire city, especially on certain days of the week. The main reason is that apart from this road, there are no other roads connecting other parts of the state to Shillong.
The government has sought ways to increase the number of bypass roads to connect Shillong so that vehicles coming from West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, and Eastern West Khasi Hills Districts can pass through other roads when coming to Shillong.
Therefore, the request to the government is to direct the companies that have taken over the construction of roads in the state to expedite their work so that it will not affect the people too much.
Because if you look at other states, when companies build roads, they work day and night, but in this state, it is seen that the machines and people work more only during the day while they sleep at night.
Additionally, the lack of alternative routes exacerbates the traffic issues in Shillong, impacting daily commutes, trade, and overall mobility. Improving road infrastructure is crucial for Meghalaya’s development, given its hilly terrain and limited transportation options.
The government might consider implementing measures to minimize traffic disruptions during construction, like optimizing work schedules or using alternative routes for heavy traffic.
Enhancing connectivity through better roads can boost economic activities in the region by facilitating smoother movement of goods and people.
In Meghalaya’s context, balancing construction progress with minimizing public inconvenience is key. The state’s unique geography means road construction can be challenging, requiring careful planning and execution.
Ensuring that construction companies adopt efficient practices and possibly increase work hours during critical phases could help mitigate delays and traffic woes.
The government balancing act between development and minimizing disruptions will be crucial for the state’s growth and for easing the daily struggles of commuters in and around Shillong.
