Traffic police's Loudspeakers become public headache in Imphal city
Public negligence of traffic rules, a hindrance for authority
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, August 20 2011: Even though the steps of the Traffic Control Police (TCP) to curb traffic congestion in Imphal area sees many major developments, the loud speakers used by the TCP to control traffic congestion have become a headache for the people living in the Imphal city, shopkeepers and salesmen of the various shops and establishments and commuters in the city.

It may be mentioned that a new order of the Traffic Control Police had prohibited parking alongside the roads of Imphal city.

Despite of the order prohibiting public parking along the roadside in the city, many ignorant peoples are seen parking their vehicles at the prohibited areas.

In order to curb this menace, the TCP has installed loud speakers near Jalan Provision Store, Kasturi Bridge and MG Avenue of Thangal Keithel to warn the ignorant public about the prohibition and its consequences.

Moreover, Mini trucks of TCP with loud speakers fitted on them are seen throughout the city area asking ignorant public not to park their vehicles in the prohibited areas.

While the steps of the TCP bring some relief to the public on the problem of traffic congestion, the frequent uses of the loudspeakers have cause more problems to the public who are either residing in the areas or those who work in the areas including shopkeepers, salesmen and commuters.

Traffic policemen are seen busy with loud PA system on a scorching summer day at MG Avenue, SSS Hotel junction

Samir, shopkeeper of a Hardware store in Thangal Keithel told Hueiyen Lanpao that the TCP has been using loud PA system in controlling traffic since the past five days.

It begins from 6.30 am till 6.30 pm daily.

The uses of loud PA system by the TCP not only annoy the shopkeepers and salesmen but also to the people residing in the areas including weak, ailing and elder persons.

Moreover it also disturbed the students living in the areas in their study and academic career.

It has become a problem for the people living in the area since the matter has become a daily occurrence.

Since the areas have been declared as no parking zone, the daily incomes of the various shops establishments have been reduced visibly.

No one is allowed to park their vehicle even for a minute or a moment which reduces the sales of the shops in the areas.

Moreover, police often beat rikshaw drivers who came in the areas for loading goods, said Samir.

Police also prohibits parking in the areas even in the night.

At least they should allow the people to park their vehicles in the night when there is less traffic.

TCP is allowing heavy goods vehicle in Assembly Road and Alu Gali stating that there are many wholesaler in the areas whereas, TCP is prohibiting entry of such goods vehicles in Thangal Keithel where there is also many major wholesalers.

Terming the system of the TCP, many shopkeepers alleged that the authority has been practicing bias and unjustified activities in allowing and prohibiting entry of goods vehicles in the various parts of Imphal city.

According to legal expert Meihouba Rakesh, the Traffic Control Police can use loud PA system while controlling traffic congestion and other related activities in the city area.

However a prior written permission is needed from the concerned DCs to use the PA system.

Using loud PA system without any written permission according to their will as if they have a power and using abrasive words are illegal.

Even though they have the permission, they should use cordial words instead of using coarse words.

Breaking window panes and windshields for breaking traffic rules is also illegal.

Instead they should impose fines as per the law and guidelines that too after producing before the Transport Magistrate.

The Manipur Pollution Control Board can also check the loudness of the loud speakers using in the Imphal city by the TCP if they had exceeded the maximum noise pollution level.

Rakesh also noted that the roadsides of Imphal city were declared as no parking zone by a cabinet decision some months back.

However there was no formal or official notification issued by any concerned department or authority.

Meanwhile, a higher official of the Traffic Control Police told Hueiyen Lanpao that the ignorance and lack of obligation on the part of the public are causing more and more problems and traffic congestion with the ever increasing population and commuters in the Imphal city areas.

The decision to prohibit public parking in the roadsides of Thangal Keithel, Paona Keithel, MG Avenue, BT Road etc were taken in public interest and as a step to curb traffic congestion in the city.

The government is providing parking spaces inside the temporary market sheds and the roadside of Nagamapal Road.

However people are not willing to park their vehiclesin the parking spaces and walk upto their destination for shopping.

Often they would told the police personnel and TCP to allow them to park their vehicles along the roadside for some moments giving excuses of buying something and it will not take too long which in real take even a whole day or some hours in most cases.

Such ignorance and lack of obligation and cooperation from the public has forced the TCP to use loud PA system to prevent the ignorant public from illegal parking.

However, the traffic policemen have been instructed to lower their mike volume and stop unnecessary use of PA system keeping in view of the complaints of shopkeepers and people residing in the areas.

The official further said that TCP is doing their duty for the welfare of the people.

Most of the complaints are made by the shopkeepers who are frustrated with the decision of not allowing parking of public vehicles in front of their shops which directly affect their sales.

At present the TCP is using 450 personnel.

Lack of crank and other necessary equipments to tow vehicles which are found illegally parking and lack of parking spaces for such vehicles are the main problems facing by the TCP while enforcing the traffic rules and realizing fines from such vehicles.

In a step to increase the public parking spaces in the city, a meeting of TRPC has resolved to announce additional public parking areas apart from the present parking spaces.

The large number of traffic police seen in the Imphal city clearly shows the lack of obligation and cooperation on the part of public, the official added.