SHILLONG, OCT 3: The Meghalaya State Planning Board (MSPB) has asked the public works department to submit a report on the status of the land at Barik point which houses the offices of the department within a month’s time.
The direction came following the decision of the state government to explore the possibility of utilizing the two acres plot of land for the purpose of developing a multi storied parking lot besides providing a space for making it an official venue for holding protest by various organizations.
“We have asked the PWD to submit the report within a month time on the status of this land at Barik point,” Board’s chairman Lambor Malngiang told reporters after conducting a joint inspection with government officials here on Wednesday.
He said that the government will be looking to develop a similar infrastructure wherever land is available in the city with the objective of addressing the problem of traffic congestion faced by the citizens.
“We are looking at the option of constructing of an official venue for holding of protest at the PWD premises at Barik point. We need to develop such a space since the various organisations are force to hold the protest at the parking lot near Additional Secretary since they do not have any other alternative,” Malngiang said.
According to him, the government is contemplating to develop a space in Shillong similar with that of Jantar Mantar in Delhi to make it as an official venue for holding of protest since the parking lot near Additional Secretariat is too small for the same.
“This will be a suitable place to allow the various organisations to hold the agitational programme,” SPB chairman said.
It may be mentioned here that the idea was first mooted by late former chief minister EK Mawlong to create a permanent space for holding of protest at the same site. However, he (Mawlong) could not make this a reality since his Government did not last.
Similarly, former Deputy Chief Minister, Bindo Mathew Lanong had also wanted to convert the 5th Ground at Polo as the official venue for holding of protest. However, none of the Government followed up this proposal of Lanong.
Malngiang said that they are also planning to develop a multi storied parking lot to ease the traffic congestion in the city.
“After seeing the traffic congestion in the city, it is time for the State Government to come up with measures to ease the traffic congestion in the city of Shillong,” he said.
Asked, the board’s chairman said that the intention is to shift the present offices from Barik point. “We will wait for the report from the PWD where to shift these offices. We would like to complete the whole exercise at the earliest,” he said.
On the other hand, Malngiang informed that the idea of coming up with the multi storeyed parking facility would provide space for vehicle dropping of and picking up of students from different schools in the area besides others.
According to him, the dropping of the children on personal vehicle has led to huge traffic jam during school hours.
He further informed that the Education department had assured to discuss with the school authorities in the city for introduction of school bus facilities for students.
“This trend of each child being drop on a separate vehicle needs to be stop. We need to encourage starting the bus services and we would try to make it mandatory to introduce the school bus facilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the board has also conducted an inspection to the parking lot near the SBI main branch at Police Bazaar.
“We have not been able to utlise the parking lot due to the parking of the maxi cabs which are not in running condition,” he said while informing that the transport department has been asked to convene a meeting of the condemnation committee to clear these vehicles within a week’s time.
By Our Reporter
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