Left is right, right is wrong!

Seikhojam Kipgen *

Traffic condition in Imphal city :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

Much is said and done on the sorry state of traffic in Imphal City. The challenge of traffic management is increasing with each passing day. And the concerned authority comes up with newer models to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic every now and then which is otherwise chaotic every single day. Utilizing the service of huge numbers of police commando besides the numerous traffic control personnel is rather an embarrassing sight one can experience.

How could you imagine asituation when uncontrolled numbers of vehicles are added into the same, unchanging roads, lanes and by-lanes? Of-course, it is an un-denying fact to becomea proud owner of a new car, or for that matter, a new vehicle; two, four or any. There is no dart of 'the haves class' who easily could go for several lakhs without even a pinch despite Manipur being a very,very poor state.

You could not hurl the whole blame on the government machinery for an unorganized traffic system as, the public too, shareshuge responsibility in this matter. There is possibly a way out to put thisunruly situation into place, either with legislation or mastering in traffic management system after thorough study of the models in other parts of the world.

Unfortunately, what we practice today is just the contrary to what is expected of a traffic governing department thereby, giving untold misery to the public. For instance, I don't see any sense in permitting two wheelers workshops along the Paona to Khojathong road or elsewhere in market places amidst the huge volume of traffic and,the act of traffic department wisely turning it into a one-way route.

Shop owners in all busy market places normally reserved the right to road in front of their respective shops for their private parking which adds to the congestion in such areas with the practice unfortunately, legalized in a sense that a shop owner has all the right over his front spaces. The roads are big enough which otherwise could comfortably hold maximum traffic if only well-organized but, due to the failure of traffic department and also recklessness of the public, that we tend to leave a small stretch for a line of vehicles to squeeze through with extreme difficulty.

To top it all, it is a regular sight to see, most particularly, security vehicles driven in the opposite direction and even more, hurling uncontrolled abuses at their own will, specially the commandoes. You know, sometimes I began to wonder as to what type of training is imparted to our forces in dealing with the public with their unchecked, abusive words. Idiosyncrasy and at times, I feel the dignity and prestige of being an honourable citizen is rendered meaningless or subdued when you are shouted and shoved at all along the road by the smart rifle-dangling, foul-mouthed custodians on the pillion, sans helmet, from the 'Left is Right and Right is Wrong' direction.

Secondly, the most chaotic situation is in traffic islands and crossings. The other day I stopped at a traffic junction to give way to vehicles from the opposite side. I had to obey in total submission in maintaining the rule of the road. But the next moment, the situation became chaotic as beacon lights and siren approaches from the rear. What choice does this poor traffic policeman have, other than to clear the road for this unknown boss? Hurriedly he jumped into the middle of the island, directed me to move away but, to my utter confusion, where?

Unless I helped him, the picture was clearly visible to everyone present there, for his noble service in standing under the hot sun and making the traffic flow, is at stake and he is answerable at the end of the day. As I gaveway, incomprehensible shouts of warning were poured down on him and I was being stared with bulging eyes, so big like a rotten egg. Gosh! What's my mistake? Yes. I do make a mistake in not becoming a babu! Or rather it is the failure of a fastidious gentleman inside the comfort of a public sympathy. And alas! This type of situations will not happen if we only let the 'traffic lights' do their work.

Thirdly, it becomes more and more expensive to have your car parked in Imphal city areas. But I am alright in paying Rs.20/- as I am allowed to park, no matter how long the duration of my parking is. However, one thing most intolerable is the manner in which parking lots are managed by different parties all over the city and, whether like it or not, you have to pay the same amount at different locations. Imagine you have to shell out Rs. 100 if you go to 5 different places.

This is a blatant mistake on the part of the government's parking mechanism in allotting to private parties. One example can be cited of Sekmai bazaar. Seeing the increased number of shoppers, the Sekmai authority started to charge parking fee which was very soon discontinued as people started to avoid Sekmai due to their reluctance to pay fee for a brief stopover.

Therefore, if any individual, society or organization has legitimate right over the roads of their respective vicinity, shops, houses or area coverage, the outcome of such act could boomerang in all the localities of Manipur, and the ultimate result could possibly cause unhealthy circumstances. So, this kind of practices which could have far reaching consequences should be avoided once and for all. However unlike Sekmai, the people of Manipur could not avoid Paona, Thangaland Imphal in general as, apart from essential commodities, Imphal is both our business and administrative capital.

Fourthly, I may not have an audience with the officials of the traffic department, but at least I will certainly give this little piece of advice. Manipur seem to be the dumping ground for worn out and stolen automobiles, which we cheerfully called, no.2, 3, and so on. I heard (please do not force me to substantiate) that larger part of vehicles owned by government officials, ministers and MLAs are either no. 2, 3, 4, 5, or bears registration of other states.

Therefore, please identify and kindly phase out such vehicles which are stolen or illegally procured and the highly polluting ones too, and limit the sale of new ones to only a certain number per year. Further, to ease the normal chaotic traffic heavy vehicles topick-up trucks should be restricted in the market places during peak business hours.

This point has relevance to the 'occasional handshake' (greasing palms) between traffic policemen and drivers. And please come up very soon with a multi-storey parking lot and declare the market areas as 'only pedestrian zone' as done in many places around the world where, all shoppers, irrespective of one's designation or post's held, could be in one status. However, while doing so, the shop owners should be made responsible withthe goods bought upto a certain point where it will be delivered.

Fifth, some accidents are blamed forreckless driving, but most accidents occur due to lack of clearly marked lanes coupled with pot holes at all places. I believe that, accidents normally occur when drivers try to avoid the numerous pot-holes and started to drive in a zigzag motion resembling a jay-walker. Despite the horrible conditions of roads, our youngsters took pride in showing their driving skills by high-speed driving or foolhardy stunts on two wheelers.

These things, I believe should be done only in isolated places but, they normally chooses crowded places perhaps, with a reason. One surprising thing about our roads is they are usually given a 'face-lift' only at the time ofVVIP visits. So roads in and around Imphal is comparatively (though not good) much better than the remaining as VVIPs seldom uses roads outside the valley.

If then, this is the case, let all citizens of Manipur, having a close relationship and association with 'Very, Very, Important' people out there, do kindly invite them on a monthly basis, even into the interior-most part of the state for the betterment of our deplorable roads that causes us to lose our near and dear ones, almost in continual succession.

Lastly, but not certainly the least, why are the traffic lights, installed with a heavy cost hanging idle at every point? Can we describe this as a failed adventure of the government or is the government yet to wake up to cry of its people for a complete disturbance and problem free traffic in Imphal? Why is the government sleeping over the fact that our streets are turning into a killing zone due their traffic mismanagement and bad roads? How long will it take for the government to realize the difficulty and deadly demeanor in subjecting someone wave his/her hand in the middle of the road?

My serious point here is why don't people in the high echelon try to understand the plight in being subjected to such disgustful and intolerable circumstances despite themselves being once a common man like us or are set to become like us in the near future? Therefore, it is the wish of the people of Manipur to wake up one day into that smooth and traffic congestion-free road where one can enjoy a cup of coffee on the move and, experience the maximum comfort of our expensive cars.

Amen.