SHILLONG, APR 24: The state government has proposed to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct a study to come up with a solution in resolving the problem of traffic congestion in the state’s capital.
The proposal was made by the Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) during a meeting held with a 9-member study team of JICA here on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists, special advisor and senior consultant of the PADECO, a study team of JICA, C Kuranama said that the team will analyse and accordingly submit a report to the JICA.
“Nothing can be committed now as it is for the JICA and the government of India to decide in term of financing and the schedule of implementation of any projects,” he said.
Kuranama also informed that the initial study on the requirement of the state government will take at least six months adding at the moment they are still at the discussion stage.
It may be mentioned that the problem of traffic congestion has become a major issue in the town and even the State police earlier had recommended the State Government to engage consultants to conduct a study on the ever increasing traffic jam in the capital city of Shillong.
State Planning Board chairman, Lambor Malngiang said that the government is keen to engage experts to study the traffic congestion in and around Shillong city besides construction of link and ring roads to solve the problem.
He informed that the first meeting of the planning board with the JICA study team also discussed on other sectors including roads, health and education besides addressing the concerns of water scarcity in the town.
The team will also have a separate meeting with the officials of the different departments, he said.
Moreover, Malngiang said that the government would also like to have schools in Meghalaya with proper infrastructure through the support of JICA as many schools in rural areas of the state lacks even basic infrastructure.
On the other hand, board member Naba Bhattacharjee said in addition to the national highways funded by the JICA, the objective of the study is also to go beyond roads and see how health and education sectors can be supplemented and improved.
He said the state government will have to identify various difficulties in the different sectors and accordingly prioritize on areas where it wants the intervention by the JICA.
Meanwhile, the State Government is also exploring the idea of getting JICA support even for State Highways and other smaller road projects.
By Our Reporter
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