Shillong, Aug 28: Charles Pyngrope( TMC) has suggested odd-even system only for private vehicles to ease traffic congestion in the city.
In reply to a supplementary question by Pyngrope in Assembly on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar said the home department will examine the suggestion.
Raising another supplementary question, Mukul Sangma (TMC) wanted to know about what happened to the funds allotted for parking bays in designated embarkment and disembarkment points in the city.
To another query by Adelbert Nongrum (VPP) regarding the opening of road at Harijan Colony, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said that the government held a meeting as there are concerns and moreover it is linked to law and order.
These additional questions came up after Nongrum raised the need to protect environment as the government is planning widening of road and parking spaces at Ward’s Lake and Phan Nonglait Park( Lady Hydari Park).
In reply Dhar said that environment will be protected while undertaking these projects.
Lahkmen Rymbui (UDP) suggested that instead of parking lot at Phan Nonglait Park, the proposed medical college should be expanded to the area.
Earlier, while replying to the questions, Dhar said the redevelopment of Ward’s Lake project is still in the DPR stage. The redevelopment of Phan Nonglait Park project is currently in the concept and design stage. Efforts will be made to minimize tree cutting. This follows the successful example of the Urban Affairs Department, which created a new parking lot opposite NEIGRIHMS without cutting a single tree.
Dhar said alleviating traffic congestion is a multi-pronged strategy also involving redeveloping existing urban spaces.
Several studies
The government has conducted several studies to identify the key factors contributing to traffic congestion in Shillong city. These studies include the ‘Blueprint to Decongest Shillong designed by the Home Police Department in consultation with IIM Shillong, and the Comprehensive Mobility Plan 2024 by Urban Affairs Department. These studies revealed gaps in tackling traffic congestion:
The gaps
A. Limited road width: 80% road are less than 7.5 m
B. Limited road capacity: On- street parking reduces road capacity by 30-40%
C. Increasing number of private vehicles: High vehicular growth rate at 17.5%.
