Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said in order to tackle the issue of traffic violations in the city and the state, the state police has transitioned from complete dependence on human workforce to technological interventions.
The technological knowhow that the department has implemented are the e-Challan Digital Traffic Solution, which facilitate online compounding of traffic violations and the setting up the “Eyes in the Sky” Drone Control Room in East Khasi Hills and in West Garo Hills, to monitor vehicular movements especially during peak traffic hours, Tynsong said.
He was replying to a call attention notice brought by the opposition Congress legislator from Mylliem Ronnie V Lyngdoh in the Assembly.
On the concern expressed over the traffic jam in Upper Shillong, Tynsong said that the traffic congestion along this stretch has been severely aggravated by the road widening work. However, the Shillong Traffic Police (STP) is doing an incredible job ensuring smooth movement of vehicles and shorter duration of traffic snarls.
He informed that the regulation and management of traffic from MES Point (Rilbong) till the 7th Mile Upper Shillong, falls under the jurisdiction of Lumdiengjri traffic branch. The Traffic Branch has an actual strength of 1 Inspector, 5 Sub-Inspectors, 5 Head Constables and 38 Constables.
These officials of the traffic branch are deployed as MES Point (Rilbong), 3rd Mile Upper Shillong junction and 7th Mile Upper Shillong junction, and they perform duty from 7 am in the morning till 9 pm in the night, which is often extended depending on the traffic situation.
Further, the deputy chief minister said in addition to the regulation and management of traffic in these 3 crucial points, officials of the Lumdiengjri traffic branch also look after the management and regulation of traffic, in other important junctions and stretches within its jurisdiction, and as the daily density of vehicle particularly within Lumdiengjri jurisdiction is very high, the assistance of the flying squad is also being utilized to clear traffic congestion and to ensure smooth flow of traffic.