Parking madness at commercial centres : Need to expand more
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: October 02 2019 -

Traffic chaos add to confusion in busy market areas on September 30 2019 :: Pix - TSE

Over concentration.

From a needle to a pen or pencil, motor spare parts to the most sophisticated of electronic items to the most basic needs such as the day’s vegetable or a kilogram of onion and potato, the destination is either Thangal Keithel, Paona Keithel, BT Road, MG Avenue, Masjid Road, Nagamapal Road and obviously these are the most congested areas in Imphal.

This is one primary reason why The Sangai Express had always called for the need to spread out the commercial areas, instead of concentrating on the areas mentioned above.

The huge crowd is understandable, but couple this with an insensitive public, poor planning and an inept and inefficient traffic personnel, and the traffic chaos and madness at the said places is something that can only be imagined.

It is also exposes the poverty of idea on the part of the Government and one wonders when process will be taken up to shift some of the important Government establishments from these places to some more convenient places, where it will not pose any movement hazards to the people.

It was some years back that the then Congress led Government came up with the idea of banning the entry of all vehicles into the main commercial centres of Imphal but that move turned out to be a miserable flop.

A sure indication that the present Government cannot afford a repeat of the past folly, but nevertheless there is the need to take a fresh look at the matter and regulate the entry of vehicles into the main commercial centres.

Those who have opened business centres at the commercial centres may be allowed to take their vehicles inside, and the parking arrangements may be worked out.

For the shoppers, there may be shuttle services, such as quick moving autos which may pick and drop passengers to and fro.

The Government has come out with strong legislations to crack down on all those who violate traffic rules and regulations.

The improvement of those behind the wheels can be seen on the roads of Imphal and the meaning of zebra crossings seems to have registered in the minds of the motorists.

This is fine and good, but it should not be forgotten that the Government too need to do what is expected of them.

Regulate the parking norms inside the commercial centres of Imphal.

Why allow vehicles to be parked on either side of the road ?

A look at MG Avenue and Thangal Keithel should be more than enough to underline this point.

Moreover make sure that traffic rules and regulations apply to all.

As noted earlier, the pressing need to expand the commercial areas of Imphal has never been felt so strongly as now.

Why not develop the market situated in front of Shanker Talkies at Lamphel suitably so that many from Thangmeiband side may go for their shopping there instead of crowding the already congested Ima Keithel at Thangal Keithel ?

Why not use the upper floors of Ima Keithel to good use ?

Why aren’t the upper floors occupied still now ?

Regulate parking at the commercial centres, strictly enforce the one way norms, come down heavily on parking on either sides of the road and yes expand the commercial centre by offering alternative marketing places.