SHILLONG, MAY 29: A new police station and fire station could soon come up near the Umshyrpi four-lane bridge, with a second site along the stretch proposed for a Tourist Information Centre and a community office for Upper Shillong headmen, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said Friday after a joint inspection.
Tynsong, who holds the Home and PWD portfolios, said the day’s visit was aimed at finalising locations for key public infrastructure.
“The inspection today was only to identify the location,” Tynsong said.
“We would like to set up a full-fledged police station and also a full-fledged fire station on the vacant space just near the four-lane bridge of Umshyrpi.”
He said senior police officers who accompanied him backed the site.
“I was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Administration), SP East Khasi Hills and SP Shillong City. They said this place is very feasible and convenient for setting up these two stations,” he said.
The second plot, Tynsong said, would address both tourism and community needs.
“We thought of having a Tourist Information Centre there. Also, time and again the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong of Upper Shillong area have requested the government to provide at least 2000-3000 square feet of land for their office as well as a community hall,” he said.
A departmental meeting will follow to push the projects. “After the inspection, I will call a departmental meeting so the initiative can be started. We will make sure these proposals happen at the earliest possible,” he said.
Tynsong credited the four-lane for easing traffic congestion into Shillong.
“From Umshyrpi bridge to the end of this four-lane it now takes maybe 6-7 minutes. Before the four-lane, from 7th Mile to Umshyrpi bridge it took a minimum 45 minutes, sometimes beyond one hour,” he said.
“The completion of this four-lane is a blessing for the state, for the people, for travellers going to and out of Shillong through this road. We don’t have much problem waiting on the road now,” he added.
Finishing works are still pending, he noted. “The finishing touch has to be done by the company. Very soon the Chief Engineer, National Highways, along with his team, the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong, the BDO of Mylliem block, and the company will have a joint inspection. Wherever portions need to be rectified, a decision will be taken on the spot,” Tynsong said.
He said the tourism infrastructure would cater to visitors heading to multiple destinations.
“In the next few days I will call a meeting with the tourism department to work out how we will build this infrastructure to facilitate tourists who want to travel across different parts of our state — towards Dawki, towards Sohra, or even to Nongstoin or Garo Hills through this area,” he said.
“I see this place as extremely necessary so we can use it for infrastructure related to the overall development and welfare of the people of our state,” he added.
On the proximity to defence land, Tynsong said the state would engage military authorities. “The place lies adjacent to defence land. We have a relationship with the Government of India and we are close with defence authorities,” he said.
“We got this land for the four-lane through the joint effort of the Defence Ministry, the state government and the Ministry of Road Transport. Regarding these plots we propose for infrastructure, we will ensure we approach the military authorities to support the state government, because this is not for individual interest but for the interest of the public,” he said.
“Personally, I will take this up to ensure our proposals to set up these infrastructures in these two locations proceed smoothly,” Tynsong said.
