The BJP has expressed strong criticism regarding Shillong’s designation as a Smart City, calling it a mere title that doesn’t reflect ground realities.
BJP spokesperson Mariahom Kharkhrang stated that Shillong’s claim to being a Smart City is visible only on signboards, but not in practice. Highlighting the city’s traffic congestion, he questioned how Shillong could be termed a Smart City when it takes over an hour to travel a mere 2 km by car.
Kharkhrang emphasized that the government must first analyze and address the city’s challenges before branding it as a Smart City. He remarked that merely putting up signs declaring Shillong as a Smart City, without resolving underlying issues, only invites embarrassment.
