Shillong: Concerned over the increasing
traffic congestion in Shillong, Meghalaya government today
decided to augment the requirement of traffic police by
recruiting volunteers to aid them.
Initially, 150 volunteers would be trained by the Home
Guards by arranging a crash course for three weeks. The
volunteers would be in their respective localities, an
official sources said after a high level meeting chaired by
Chief Minister DD Lapang.
“The functioning of these volunteers for traffic
duties will be reviewed every three months and as an
incentive, their performances will be given due weightage at
the time of police recruitment,” the sources said.
During the meeting, Lapang expressed his concern at
the heavy traffic congestion in the city which is choking
every important road in the city causing inconvenience to the
people.
Besides intensification of highway patrolling, the
meeting also decided that from January 1 entry of heavy
vehicles to Shillong city will be closed from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Vehicles carrying essential commodities will be exempted from
the restriction.
The proposal of the police department for purchasing
additional motor-cycles for mobile patrolling would be
processed immediately for obtaining sanction from the finance
department, the sources said.
It was also decided that the police department and the
PWD would conduct a joint inspection and to identify suitable
areas where lay-byes could be constructed for regulating the
movement of trucks so that they do not spill over to the
national highways.
All garages and workshops have been instructed not to
park their vehicles for repairs on the highway as it affects
the smooth movement of traffic, the sources added.
PTI
