Where is Shillong's lost glory heading towards?

No one can deny that Shillong is growing very fast. Every year, there are massive changes occurring in and around the city. The government is doing much for the capital. However, there are certain areas that have been totally neglected over the years. Commuting around the city is one such area and has more than often caused problems for the people. The only means of local transport are the taxis, whereas other cities across India have regular bus services for the same purpose.

In the other cities of India, buses form the main means of local transportation. Moreover, cities like Mumbai, Kolkata can also boast of local trains. Even the smaller cities and towns across the country have local bus for the convenience of the people. However, Shillong is way behind in this basic means of transportation. There are very few buses running around the city and that too far- in- between making it difficult for the citizens to board them. Even if one gets into one such bus, he is destined to be late for his work because these buses run at their own will and stop wherever they want for long periods of time. And if anyone tells the driver or the conductor to hurry they just get rude and ignore the humble request of the passengers.

In the other cities, not only are there efficient bus services throughout the day, they are also well connected with affordable rates. Some cities also have monthly passes, wherein they can pay the organisation once a month and enjoy the services throughout the month. Moreover, these buses have special sitting arrangements for women and senior citizens. The bus drivers and conductors are also well-behaved.

In Shillong, most of the city bus have been converted into make shift lorries for the “bastis”. There are seen more often carrying vegetables and heavy sacks instead of people! Some of the buses are in such horrible conditions that many would avoid them in any case. Moreover, the local taxis have become such convenient means of transport that people do not mind paying extra for better comfort.

It is high time that the government awakens from their deep slumber on this matter and take some steps to revive the lost glory of the local bus services. The now dormant Shillong City Bus Syndicate should probably merge with the Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) similar to the likes of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) or Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and run the local buses. The corporation should also build proper and clean shades for the awaiting passengers. The issuing of tickets should also be made more transparent. The frequency of some of the buses in Shillong also becomes a problem. More buses with better frequencies should be introduced to increase the popularity of the local buses.

If these suggestions are taken up and the dying city bus service is revived it will help each and every citizen of Shillong. It will also help to build a better Shillong in terms of communication.

I VOTED!!!!!

My first experience in exercising my right to vote!!! Oh!! The initial excitement of just the idea of voting was superb. I was counting days, asking my elders about the voting process, basically doing everything I thought “I was supposed to do and know”.

And ultimately the day came!! I woke up at 5:30 with full excitement that I will vote. Though the voting process starts at 7 a.m, I was there in the booth by 6:15 a.m. As I was standing in queue for my turn to come, I realised that I did not even know who were the candidates standing for my constituency. Until then I hadn’t realised that I never gave it a thought. I was quite happy with the idea of voting and with minimal knowledge that a candidate from my locality was standing in the state elections. When I saw the names of the other candidates, I was quite disheartened. Not only because I did not know the to- be- MLA’s of my constituency but also at my ignorance.

After casting my vote (but to the obvious), when I returned home, I started thinking. This mustn’t be an individual case of ignorance but a widespread phenomenon. But who is to be blamed for this. Is it us the voters, the citizens who do not take interest in our political upswings or is it the political parties who control the whole system. In an instant we would immediately blame the latter for not doing enough, for corruption and many more misdeeds. Yes, it is right to say that they are to be blamed. As MLA’s and MP’s these people never visit our homes or localities to see the actual plight of the people and for this reason we, in turn, do not know them. At the most we hear about them time and again in the news papers and if we get very “lucky” than we see them in some function. But as responsible citizens do we do anything at all? We too don’t take any interest in what happens around us as long as it doesn’t affect us.

So, at the end, who is to be blamed? In all honesty both parties are to be blamed for all these things. After actually casting my vote today I realised that I should have known who the other candidates are. And on their part, they should have made an effort to come over and let us know that they are contesting and not just send there workers.

I just hope that my this realisation lasts till the next elections and I do keep a track of atleast the contesting candidates if not of anything else.