Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has defended the citywide traffic paralysis that gripped Shillong during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit. The gridlock occurred as the city hosted the 73rd plenary session of the North Eastern Council, an event attended by numerous governors, chief ministers, and federal officials. Sangma described the intense security measures as unavoidable given the status of the VVIPs involved.
Residents spent hours trapped in vehicles throughout the city, with particularly chaotic scenes unfolding in the Polo area as commuters argued with police over extended road closures. Many citizens expressed frustration that the administration failed to implement basic traffic management strategies, such as declaring a half-day for offices or a school holiday to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
One frustrated commuter captured the public sentiment, stating, "If the entire city was expected to be shut down for convoys, a holiday should have been announced to save us this ordeal." While Sangma claimed such disruptions happen only occasionally and promised to minimize future issues, the lack of proactive planning has left many residents questioning the government's approach to managing large-scale events in the congested capital.
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