Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 23:
With the ever increase in population on one hand and absence of a proper Urban Transportation Plan, the traffic along the busy roads of Imphal has thrown out of gear creating lot of inconveniences to the people.
According to opinions of the experts, the problem of traffic congestion witnessing on the roads of the capital city is due to absence of a proper transportation plan of the Government, without which taking up of development works of the Imphal is meaningless.
On top of this, which department or the authority has to look after this aspect of town planning is not known for sure in Manipur, the experts said.
Elucidating their points, the experts pointed out that the Town Planning Authority remains busy in construction of markets, shops and other buildings while PWD keeps its hand full on taking up roads and bridges construction works, all in the names of development without ever thinking whether there is any arrangement for smooth flow of the vehicular traffic and pedestrians.
On the other hand, in the name of regulating traffic, the traffic police tried their best to squeeze both vehicles and pedestrians even in narrowest roads and by-lanes of the city while the Transport authority continues to register more and more vehicles.
Construction of market sheds near busy road interaction like Nagamapal which do not even have parking lot for the vehicles and encroachment on the pedestrian pavements by women vegetable vendors, workshops, etc.
are also said to be adding to problem of congestion, giving a hard time to the traffic police in maintaining traffic regulation.
It is informed that around 50 traffic police personnel and 110 Home Guard personnel are presently pressed into service for regulation of traffic along the busy roads of Imphal.
During the peak hour, 7 to 8 traffic police personnel are engaged for the task of regulating traffic along the busy route from Nityapat Chuthek Traffic Point, in front of Raj Bhavan to the traffic point at Western Gate of Kangla, which is found to be quite inadequate, according to experts' opinions.