Shillong: Shillong Traffic Police will enforce sweeping vehicle restrictions across the city to manage crowds during Durga Puja. The rules apply from October 17 to 20, with extra measures set for the idol immersion procession on October 21. Officers will issue fines or tow vehicles that ignore no-parking zones or ignore road blocks.
East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police issued the advisory on October 16. Officials designated 10 specific no-parking stretches. These include the road from Laban Police Station to Circuit House, the Paltan Bazaar area, and the route from Lumdiengjri Police Station to Mawprem. A 100-metre no-parking radius surrounds every puja pandal.
Sadar, Laban, Lumdiengjri, Rynjah, and Laitumkhrah will face heavy diversions. In Sadar, traffic from the Government Officers’ quarters junction moves toward Jail Road Petrol Pump. Vehicles near the MeECL office cannot reach Keating Road and must head for Kachari Point. Laitumkhrah restrictions begin daily at 8 am. Drivers heading toward the Fire Service Puja Pandal or the Law College area will face detours through LIC junction and Nongkynrih Road.
The Lumdiengjri sector will see rolling closures based on road density. Starting at 4 pm, vehicles near District Council Point may be pushed toward Motphran Point. Rynjah and Laban sectors also feature specific turn-arounds at spots like the Harisabha Puja Pandal and RR Colony.
Immersion day requires strict compliance. On October 21, only idol-carrying vehicles can access the route from CS junction to Fourth Furlong junction. All other traffic diverts starting at 8 am. Officials warned commuters to plan ahead. "Vehicles found violating the rules may be challaned, clamped or removed," the advisory stated. Emergency vehicles keep priority. Public help lines for local traffic branches are active, and the emergency number remains 112.
Comments