Alu Gali : Shopkeepers' playground
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 01 2016: Alu Gali, one of the key roads of Khwairamband Keithel, does not look like a public road any more with shopkeepers using the road as their own property.

Alu Gali can be assumed as two roads.

The first one starts from Ima Keithel Shed No 2 and passes in front of Rajen Dresses while the second one begins from Assembly Road and passes through Family Welfare Office.

Even though large parts of Alu Gali are occupied by street vendors, it is still one of the most popular roads for people coming to Khwairamband Keithel as it can lead to Thangal Keithel, MG Avenue and further to Nagamapal through Kasturi Bridge.

Traffic circus

However, the second Alu Gali which goes straight past Manipur State Cooperative Bank is virtually inaccessible to commuters.

The particular road has been literally taken over by potato, dal and other grocery items.

With the exception of pedestrians, even people riding two-wheelers cannot access the road.

Earlier there were shops on either side of the road but the shops were dismantled as new buildings were constructed on the plot belonging to Phullockhand& Trilockchand.

There are shops only on the southern side now.

The road is as congested as in the days when the shops were not dismantled, and loading and unloading of goods to/from heavy trucks, mini-trucks, vans and hand-carts were a regular sight.

The road leading from Family Welfare Office to MG Avenue always remains congested on account of movement loaded and unloaded vehicles to/from Alu Gali.

The situation is further compounded by rows of vehicles parked along the road.

Notably, the same road passes in front of the offices of City Police and Traffic Control Police.

Strangely, there are neither police nor TCP personnel on the road leading to MG Avenue from Family Welfare Office.

Even if they are present on the road for sometime in a day, they are not in a position to control traffic snarls seen there on daily basis.

Of the thousands of shops of Khwairamband Keithel, the shops at Alu Gali which deal in potato and dal enjoy the greatest luxury.

With the road almost inaccessible, there is no movement of commuters.

Loading and unloading of goods on/from vehicles are done right in the middle of the road in front of the respective shops.

The loaded vehicles which come out from Alu Gali are always a source of traffic congestion just beyond Alu Gali.

The general public are aware of the traffic problems caused by movement of loaded vehicles to and from Alu Gali but it remains a big question on how police and TCP would tackle this problem.