SHILLONG:
The topic on decongesting Shillong city has been discussed in the Assembly more than once with several interventions being announced and suggestions being offered by the members of the House.
On the fifth day of the budget session on March 24, Nongthymmai MLA Charles Pyngrope asked whether the “world class Skywalk” mentioned by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma during his budget speech on March 23 can help ease vehicular congestion.
The proposed Skywalk from Khyndailad (Police Bazaar) to Barik Point will be built with an investment of Rs 25 crore to facilitate pedestrian movement.
“The world class skywalk would only ease the pedestrian traffic; we are also concerned about the vehicular congestion,” Pyngrope said and suggested the government to convert the skywalk into a bus route by elevating the project on stilts.
Deputy Chief Minister incharge Home Prestone Tynsong has agreed to take note of this suggestion.
Earlier, Tynsong informed that the government has taken multi-disciplinary measures and integrated approach to tackle traffic congestion and improve mobility and accessibility of Shillong.
“The state government has conducted technical studies, integrated network planning and mobility assessment to understand the root cause and based on this and inputs from various departments, a blue print to decongest Shillong was prepared which has listed out short, medium and long term interventions to ease congestion,” the deputy chief minister told the House.
Furthermore, he informed that a multi-departmental committee was constituted, headed by the chief secretary, called the ‘Shillong Decongestion Committee’. “The committee has also been notified to monitor the progress of the interventions listed in blue print,” he added.