SHILLONG — The East Khasi Hills District Administration, in close coordination with the Shillong Traffic Police, has issued a comprehensive movement and security advisory for the state capital and surrounding corridors ahead of the official visit of Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan. The administration has implemented strategic traffic diversions, designated heavy-vehicle restrictions, and established a strict no-drone zone across key sectors of the city to ensure maximum public safety, smooth VVIP movement, and minimal disruption to daily public transit.

With the Vice President scheduled to attend key official functions, state-level engagements, and civic programs in Shillong, local authorities have put extensive security protocols in place. Residents, daily commuters, commercial drivers, and inter-state travelers operating along the vital Guwahati–Shillong highway corridor are strongly urged to review the travel parameters and adjust their journeys accordingly.

Detailed Overview of Traffic Regulations and VVIP Corridors

To accommodate the high-profile vehicular movement, the Shillong Traffic Police will operate rolling blockades and temporary diversions along primary arteries connecting the city’s entrance with central civic nodes.

Primary Affected Corridors Rolling traffic holds and temporary stoppages will be enforced along the primary route leading from the city’s northern entry point through to the central administrative district:

• Entry and Northern Sector: Umiam Bridge → Mawlai Mawiong → Mawlai Phudmuri → Golf Links Junction
• Central Transit Arteries: CRPF Junction → Polo Ground → 4th Furlong Junction → Civil Hospital Intersection
• Administrative Core: IGP Point → Kachari Junction → State Central Library Complex → Police Bazaar Circuit

During VVIP convoys, traffic along these segments will be periodically held or re-routed onto secondary municipal roads. Authorities have noted that while full road closures will be kept as brief as possible, commuters should anticipate intermittent delays across all major intersections feeding into these routes.

Key Travel Advisory Guidelines for Commuters

To mitigate urban congestion and prevent bottlenecks in central commercial areas, the District Administration has outlined several essential directives for the motoring public:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                            PUBLIC TRAVEL DIRECTIVES                               |
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Category                                            | Regulation / Action Required|
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Inter-State Commuters (Guwahati–Shillong NH-6)      | Allow 45–60 mins extra time |
| Heavy Commercial Vehicles (6-wheelers and above)    | Restricted entry 6AM–9PM    |
| Local Public Transport (Taxis/Buses)                | Follow designated detours   |
| Emergency Services (Ambulances/Fire)                | Priority passage maintained |
+-----------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------+

1. Advance Planning for Inter-City Travel: Passengers traveling between Guwahati and Shillong along National Highway 6 (NH-6) should schedule trips early in the morning or late in the evening. Additional clearance time must be factored in for flight connections via Umroi (Shillong) Airport or Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati.
2. Commercial Vehicle Restrictions: Heavy motor vehicles (HMVs), medium goods carriers, and multi-axle trucks will face restricted entry into Shillong municipal limits during peak VVIP movement hours. Staging areas have been designated along the outskirts to hold non-essential commercial transit until corridors clear.
3. Local Municipal Detours: Drivers navigating between suburban neighborhoods—such as Mawlai, Pynthorumkhrah, Laitumkhrah, and Laban—are encouraged to utilize peripheral bypass roads rather than crossing through the central Police Bazaar and IGP junctions.

Emergency Services and Priority Clearance

District authorities have explicitly reaffirmed that essential and medical emergency vehicles will receive uninterrupted access across all restricted zones.

• Unrestricted Medical Access: Ambulances carrying critically ill patients, vehicles serving oxygen delivery units, and emergency medical responders will be escorted or granted immediate clearance through traffic holds.
• Dedicated Control Desk: Dedicated traffic officers are deployed at key hospital control points, including Civil Hospital Shillong, NEIGRIHMS, and Ganesh Das Hospital, to assist incoming emergency traffic.
• Public Cooperation: Private motorists are strictly advised to yield immediate right-of-way to emergency sirens, even when navigating tightly regulated queue lines or VVIP diversion routes.

Airspace Restrictions: Strict ‘No-Drone Zone’ Implemented

In addition to ground-level traffic arrangements, the East Khasi Hills District Magistrate has issued a prohibition order under statutory security frameworks, declaring key regions of Shillong a temporary No-Drone Zone.

• Coverage Radius: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commercial drones, micro-drones, and recreational flying devices are completely banned within a 3-kilometer radius of all designated VVIP venues, residential quarters, and transit routes.
• Key Restricted Venues: The temporary airspace prohibition strictly applies to the airspace surrounding the State Central Library Complex, Raj Bhavan, the Governor’s Estate, and surrounding administrative headquarters.
• Enforcement Measures: Any unauthorized drone operating within the security perimeter will be intercepted, seized, and neutralized by security forces. Violators will face immediate legal proceedings under relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code and Civil Aviation guidelines.

Official Recommendations for Residents and Tourists

Local civil bodies and traffic police have issued a list of best practices for residents, business owners, and visiting tourists during the Vice President’s stay:

• Utilize Public Transit Wisely: Where possible, residents are encouraged to walk short distances within central commercial pockets like Police Bazaar and Laitumkhrah rather than taking short taxi rides that contribute to localized gridlock.
• Adhere to Parking Restrictions: Strict ‘No Parking’ rules will be enforced along designated VVIP routes. Vehicles parked illegally along the main VVIP alignment will be promptly towed to keep road shoulders clear.
• Monitor Real-Time Traffic Updates: The Shillong Traffic Police will post periodic route updates via official government social media channels and local radio broadcasts to keep the public informed about cleared corridors and real-time diversions.

Operational Coordination Across Departments

To handle the logistical requirements of the Vice President’s itinerary, multi-agency coordination committees involving civil administration, state police units, central security organizations, and public works departments have been activated. Security sweeps, route sanitization exercises, and dummy convoy runs have been conducted across the city to test response times and refine traffic flow patterns.

The East Khasi Hills District Administration extends its gratitude to the public for their continued cooperation, patience, and adherence to security guidelines during this important state visit. Commuters are encouraged to remain updated through local news bulletins and cooperate fully with traffic personnel deployed along the city’s road network.

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