A few departmental examinations had to be postponed today because of snarls caused by truck breakdowns in different parts of Shillong. Students and office-goers too reached late in schools and offices.
“My sister had to go to Nongpoh in Ri Bhoi district for a test but because of the traffic jam, the examination was postponed,” said a Shillong resident.
The traffic snarl was severe since 6am today from Madanriting, on the outskirts of Shillong to Umiam in Ri Bhoi district.
There was also intermittent traffic congestion in parts of Nongpoh in Ri Bhoi district.
East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh had a meeting with the district superintendent of police A.R. Mawthoh to find a solution to the crisis.
“The trucks broke down at three places, Nongthymmai, Dhanketi and the junction near the military hospital here,” Mawthoh said.
The additional superintendent of police (traffic), Herbert Lyngdoh, while admitting the shortage of manpower to man the traffic, said the main reason for frequent traffic congestion is because of the frequent breakdown of trucks on the road.
“Though traffic police have been deployed, there is undue delay in clearing the way as thousands of trucks are plying though the national highway and some of them do break down,” he said.
The official said the number of trucks has gone up because of the restrictions on the load to 9 tonnes. Earlier, one truck used to carry around 20 tonnes of goods. So, the number of trucks had to be increased to carry the additional load, he added. As a result, even those trucks which are hardly road-worthy, are being used. Breakdowns follow naturally.
At present, during a shift, 100 constables man the traffic from Mawiong in Shillong to the outskirts of the city, a distance of about 65km.
In Shillong, the traffic personnel use 19 bikes to reach the spots whenever there are complaints.
Jopthiaw Lyngdoh said, “The current situation is such that the administration and the police are acting against the market forces.”
“The demand in Guwahati for coal has to be reciprocated by its supply from Jaintia Hills and more trucks are used to meet the requirements since there is a restriction on the load limit,” he added.
A traffic police official said, “The timing of the trucks to enter Shillong is from 7pm to 6am. However, because of the large number of trucks plying through the national highway, the police have no other option but to allow the trucks at any time to ease traffic congestion on the Shillong-Guwahati road.”
For the past three months, the number of trucks plying through the national highway increased from 1,600 to 2,500.
The co-chairman of the state planning board, John Kharshiing, said, “The government should think about a temporary ban on coal mining as the major cause of the traffic congestion is because of the plying of coal-laden trucks on the national highway.”