Meghalaya’s opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator, Charles Pyngrope, has suggested that the state government conduct a feasibility study on introducing a Sky Train in Shillong to address the city’s persistent traffic congestion. Highlighting the severe land constraints in the capital, Pyngrope argued that an elevated transport system would be a more viable long-term solution compared to a skywalk.
“Instead of a skywalk, if a study is conducted for a sky train, it will be a more feasible option given the paucity of land on the ground. Otherwise, we can take one step at a time,” he stated.
Beyond infrastructure, Pyngrope also emphasized the urgent need for school buses to reduce congestion during peak hours. He urged the state’s education department to mandate schools to introduce buses, citing Assam as a successful example. “If you go to Assam, you will see that every school, no matter how big or small, uses buses. They are not air-conditioned; children travel in the heat and dust, yet it remains the most convenient way. Bajoria School has been doing it for 25 years, the Army School has buses—this is a system followed worldwide. Why can’t Shillong do it?” he questioned.
Pyngrope praised the success of the STEM bus service, which has played a key role in reducing school-hour congestion. “In 2023, STEM acquired 30 buses. Initially, no one paid much attention, but today the reports are encouraging. I had to speak twice about it in the Assembly. These 30 buses have been a success story and will be a major factor in easing traffic during school hours,” he said.
The legislator also called for stricter enforcement of roadside parking regulations, arguing that haphazard parking is a primary cause of traffic jams. “No roads in Shillong are too small. If public road parking is stopped, there will be no traffic jams. But people park wherever and whenever they want, without any rule to regulate it. Parking on public roads should be a crime punishable by a fine. If the police are stricter, this issue can be solved,” he asserted.
Pyngrope acknowledged that infrastructure expansion, including the shift of the Assembly and Secretariat to New Shillong, could provide long-term relief, but stressed that public cooperation is essential. “The government may have the best intentions, but if the general public does not cooperate, those intentions will remain just a fragment of imagination,” he said.
As Shillong grapples with worsening congestion, Pyngrope’s recommendations signal a call for urgent action, blending innovative transport solutions with disciplined urban management.