The opposition has expressed concern over distraction due to painting of roads in the city and questioned if the government had duly followed the road safety parameters.
Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang during the question hour wanted to know whether the paintings along the main Secretariat road adhered to Indian Road Congress (IRC) codes and standards.
Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar said the interventions align with geometric design standards for urban roads and streets. He further mentioned that a study had been conducted, indicating that these measures would help ease traffic congestion in the city. According to the government, the initiative is part of the Shillong Urban Mobility Policy, aimed at expanding walking spaces and decongesting traffic.
Raising a supplementary question, Opposition Leader Mukul Sangma pointed out about the distraction that may be caused due to the painting of roads.
In reply, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the initiative follows the Tactical Urbanisation Guidebook of the Ministry, which outlines various traffic management strategies. He emphasized that the government is working on a broader Shillong Urban Mobility Master Plan focused on decongesting Shillong and improving traffic flow.
“This initiative is part of a larger, well-researched master plan that considers road safety, parking, walking spaces, and compliance with both central and state government regulations,” the Chief Minister stated.
He further highlighted that under this plan, the government aims to allocate about 30 per cent of road space for non-motorized transport, develop more walking spaces, and create additional parking facilities. The road paintings, he clarified, are not an isolated effort but an integrated part of this long-term strategy.
Mukul urged the government to conduct a thorough audit of all roads to identify any deviations from established road safety parameters.
