Solving Puzzle of Traffic Snarls In Shillong

SHILLONG: A careful analysis of a data sample carried out diligently by a professional explains as to why Shillong city gets choked during certain hours of the day due to heavy traffic snarls. The analysis and results based on data carried in a single hour in the intersection points within the Shillong municipality say it all. This data sample was carried out meticulously during the one hour of heavy traffic flow.

During a peak hour, at Rhino intersection point, 3,766 vehicles ply to and fro, followed by the IGP point with 3,507 vehicles. The Police Bazaar intersection located in the heart of the city witnessed 2,515 vehicles plying during the peak hour’s time. The Dhankheti intersection point recorded an average of 2,497 vehicles in the 60 minutes. Don Bosco, Malki, and Barik junctions have the average numbers of 2,497, 2,449 and 2,321 respectively. Anjalee intersection witnesses an average of 2,488 vehicular movements during the peak one-hour traffic flow while the Howell point saw 2,300 and the seven-day quadruple point has 2,090 vehicles moving in a single hour.

Altogether 200 traffic police personnel backed by another 100 home guards personnel manage traffic within Shillong city while seven traffic branches monitor the city traffic. But there is still a manpower deficit. Besides an increasing number of new vehicles hit the city roads each day. According to a senior official involved in Shillong traffic management, all these junctions have their own peculiarity.

These intersection points include the ones that are inlet points for vehicles coming from the other districts; some of them may be located along the national highway while others are in the areas that house multiple schools and of course the market areas, stated the official.

While the traffic police have put all efforts to manage the traffic and reduce traffic snarls, another reason that adds to the woes of traffic controlling uniformed men in the street is the huge inflow of tourist-ferrying vehicles during the festive seasons.

Also Read: MEGHALAYA NEWS