Meghalaya Minister Announces Construction Separate Routes for Vehicles from Assam

SHILLONG: The tourism minister for the state of Meghalaya, has announced that the state government is working towards preparing alternate routes for vehicles from Assam in a bid to avoid traffic congestion in the capital city of Shillong.

Traffic congestion has been a major headache for the city of Shillong in the past few years and it has increased manifold in the recent time. Even the Meghalaya High Court has ordered the state government to take steps towards combating this problem and bringing relief to the people of the city.

Replying to queries related to traffic congestion in the state, tourism minister Paul Lyndoh mentioned that the vehicles from the neighbouring state of Assam visit Meghalaya in large numbers mainly to ferry traffic. He also added that the government is now trying to find new routes for such vehicles so that tourists can move directly to popular destinations without interfering with the local traffic. This way tourist vehicles from Assam will be able to ply directly to popular tourist destinations like Sohra without entering Shillong. The Umiam - Mawlyndep route is one of the routes that are in preparation for this goal.

On being questioned regarding the vehicles registered in Assam commuting inside the city and contributing towards the traffic problems, Paul Lyngdoh said that if Meghalaya stops the plying of Assam-registered vehicles in their state, Assam too will reciprocate accordingly and that will lead to problems. Hence he said that he had directed the officers from the concerned department to engage in discussions with their counterparts in the neighbouring state and find a solution towards reaching a solution to the same.

“If we stop them from plying to the state, and then they do the same, then we will be in trouble,” said the minister.

Also Read: Tour operators meet in Delhi to promote Assam as tourist destination

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