New Traffic rule, JnNURM buses and present roads
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 25, 2012 -
Semi-low floor bus for ferrying passengers within the market areas in Imphal on February 23 2012 - Pix :: David M Mayum
Ningombam Pramod from the desk
It was with the motive of easing traffic congestion in Imphal city that the state government came up with a new traffic rule on February 13th, thereby prohibiting entry of all vehicles in Paona and Thangal Bazaar. The state government also allotted 17 authorised parking lots in different parts of the city.
The new traffic regulation, though, was put on a trial basis, did not go well with the public. Shopkeepers of Thangal and Paona Bazaar even went to the extent of shutting down their shops for a couple of days protesting against the new traffic regulation, on the ground that customers are reluctant to visit their shops and as a result their sale proceed decline considerably.
It was only then, or it may be a case of coincidence, that the state government came up with the proposal of introducing semi low floor buses in Imphal city and started the services from February 23.
As it was normal for any individual or a group of persons or the public in general, to be delighted over any new development in the society, the people of the state in general and the Imphalites in particular are delighted over the new mode of public transport through introduction of two semi low floor buses which have been provided under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) in restricted market areas of Imphal city. The step of the state government was much to the admiration and relief of the public. But the public's delight and admiration is likely to be short-lived.
Considering the nature of the roads in Manipur, the low floor buses which have been provided under JnNURM are not likely to meet public demand in the long run.
It has been seen that most of the long and short distance bus services, both public and private, are losing ground in Imphal city. We can see a variety of light motor vehicles, including Tata Magic, Auto Rickshaw, Tata Irish and others of the like coming up on the roads of Imphal city and beyond and these have definitely caught attention and eyes of the public.
The main reason behind this phenomenon is the nature of the existing roads which are narrow and only small and light vehicles fit more easily while it is 'no, no' for the big and longer passenger carrying vehicles. The authority concerned should take into consideration of these situations while coming up with any sort of plan or development project over traffic problem in Imphal city.
Moreover, there is also the problem of dedicated bus stand in Imphal area. With exception to the existing one or two bus stands in the heart of Imphal, there has been no proposal to establish more bus stands which will be requiring, if at all, the introduction of the semi low floor bus services is to be made successful.
At the same time dedicated bus lane or demarcated bus lane on all arterial roads should also be made available. It is only with the idea of easing the problem of congestion and its consequences in the form of travel delays, loss of productivity, deterioration in the quality of air, noise pollution and mounting number of road fatalities, the GoI announced a National Urban Transport Policy in April 2006.
It is a policy which focuses on the need to "move people - not vehicles" and ensure safe, affordable, quick, comfortable, reliable and sustainable access for the growing number of city residents. It is for this that the semi low floor buses have been introduced in 65 mission cities including Imphal, under JnNURM.
If at all the introduction of these buses is to be made successful in the state, the state government should have opted for the mini-sized buses over the medium sized buses.
This option could have ensure not only increase in the number of fleet sanctioned but also in the frequency of buses to be plied on the roads as seen in other North Eastern States like Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland.
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