Opp demands Govt to come up with blueprint to decongest Shillong city

Participating during a short duration discussion on the degradation of roads, traffic management and non-compliance of transport laws in the state, AITC legislator from Mawsynram Himalaya M Shangpliang said the government should come up with a road map or a blueprint to decongest the city particularly during the school and office hours.

“When we talk of traffic congestion in the city it is madness particularly in the morning. It is also madness to see the way the roads are choked. All the roads coming to the city, if I may say the roads coming from Mawiong, from Upper Shillong or from Mawblei, it is really a concern, it is a concern not just of the MLAs. Therefore, I stand here today to voice the concern of the people of the state and particularly of the people of Shillong,” Shangpliang said.

“I am a rural MLA. I leave my home in the morning to go to my constituency. I stay in Risa colony and the moment I hit the main road and reach Dhankheti my anxiety starts from there, the anxiety is because there is so much of a traffic jam. From Dhankhet to Ladmawreng we just have to follow the queue,” he narrated.

When the Transport Minister Dasakhiatbha Lamare stated in his reply that the matter related to traffic management is still pending in the court and it is subjudice to discuss it, the Mawsynram MLA however said that it is no longer subjudice since the High Court had already given its direction to the state government to submit a blueprint.

Continuing with his reply, Lamare informed that the blueprint is under preparation. “September 23 will be the next hearing,” he said, adding “ We are preparing the blueprint and there are many solutions being given by concerned members…”

Earlier while moving the short duration discussion, opposition chief whip and Umroi legislator George B Lyngdoh said that the dilapidation of the roads, the delay in the repair has been bringing huge losses to the people.

“Their (people) travel time has been affected, the cost of travel has gone up. Vehicles like taxis, auto rickshaws are getting damaged frequently because of roads not repaired,” he said while urging the government to address the issue.

By Our Reporter