SHILLONG: While several consultations, meetings, proposals and ideas have been discussed over the years to ease traffic congestion in the city, the people of Shillong are yet to heave a sigh of relief from the ever growing traffic jams that plague the city on a daily basis.
On Monday, there was huge traffic jam in the city and even ambulances were stuck in the clogged roads until traffic cops and good Samaritans helped them to negotiate their way amidst the long rush of traffic.
Several governments in the past including the incumbent government have held consultations on how to solve the problem but the traffic snarls continue to be a major problem in the lives of office goers, students and shopkeepers
East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak said that there was no specific reason for the traffic jam on Monday as Shillong usually witnesses heavy traffic jams on Mondays and Fridays.
He also said that police have submitted few proposals to the State Government which are expected to help solve the problem and that it now depends on the State Government as to whether it would act on the proposals or not.
Earlier in March, the State Government had sought feedback from various line departments to sort out the growing traffic menace in the city.
Years back, there were talks regarding plans to expand the city roads and to construct flyovers in the congested town but such plans have ended only in mere discussions.
Right now, Shillong police is somehow managing the situation by turning several roads into one way lanes and by putting up sign boards cautioning against overtaking.
Earlier this year, it was also informed that a feasibility study on traffic congestion in this city is likely to be undertaken by PADECO, a consultant firm of the Japan International Cooperation Agency but it is not known if such an exercise has been conducted here.
A few senior leaders also feel that there are many locations in the city where roads can be expanded.
Veteran politician Bindo M Lanong who had once stressed on the need to part away with some land from Raj Bhawan still feels that his idea is still a possibility in helping to expand the road.
The idea of expanding roads by utilizing a bit of land from the State Central Library was also taken up with the Arts and Culture Minister said that it was a good suggestion.