Paona, Thangal Keithel to become Pedestrian Zone
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 10, 2012:
In a move to ease traffic congestion in Imphal market area, the state government has converted the Paona and Thangal Keithel as pedestrian zone barring all types of vehicles from entering the area.
Announcing this to mediapersons in a press meet at the conference hall of the Directorate of Transports, Babupara here today, DSP Imphal West, Traffic, Y Victoria said that the decision to convert the two main market areas as pedestrian zone was taken in a joint meeting of the Transport Department and the Traffic Control Police held some days back.
Accordingly, an order was issued and the same will come into effect from February 13 on trial basis for a period of one month.
Hueiyen Lanpao had reported about the joint meeting which took the decision of converting Paona and Thangal Keithel areas into Pedestrian Zone.
The joint meeting was chaired by Principal Secretary of Transport.
DSP Vitoria explained that all types of vehicles will be barred from entering the area from 9 am to 1 pm while one can pass through the area on their vehicles from 3 pm to 5 pm.
But nothing will be changed in the existing rules in the remaining hours.
However, rickshaw pullers (Thela) will be allowed in Thangal Keithel area even during the pedestrian hour.
Parking space will be provided in some selected streets of the two markets and signboards will be erected to indicate the parking space.
Vehicles of the residents in the two market areas should leave before 8 am in the morning and can only come back after 6 pm.
However, one can park their vehicles if they have own garage and certificates of owning the garages.
Personnel on essential services are, however, allowed to bring in their vehicles inside the market areas.
Victoria further said that Traffic Control Police are facing lot of inconveniences in regulating traffic in Imphal city area due to lack of manpower and appealed to the people of the state to follow the traffic guidelines with a sense of responsibility to ease traffic congestion in the market areas.
She also clarified that the passenger autorikshaws which are allowed to ply in the market areas are not at all allowed to park but to stop for some seconds for the passengers to get in or out of the vehicles.
On the parking for vehicles, DSP Victor explained that passenger vehicles like autorikshaws and Magic coming from Tiddim Road should enter Wahengbam Leikai Road and park at Sagolband parking and vehicles coming from Mayai Lambi should enter Wahenbam Leikai Road through Kwakeithel and park at their existing parking lot.
Parking fees will be charged on hourly basis from now on and Traffic Congestion Tax will be levied from vehicles passing through the market areas.
Collection of parking fees will be done by agents appointed by Traffic Control Police for the time being, she added.
Deputy Director, Transport Shivadas Sharma told reporter that the whole Imphal city will be divided into four zones to reduce frequent traffic jam.
Awareness programme will be organised to educate the people on the effects of using spaces along the roadsides in Imphal city for commercial purposes.
The department is planning to acquire trolleys for providing them to shoppers in carrying their purchases to the parking lots.
Public transport service e would be introduced from from Imphal market to Lamphel Supermarket for the conveniences of vendors.
RIMS Road has been made into one way road to ease traffic congestion and parking lots will be arranged over the Naga nullah as soon as the ongoing construction work is over, he assured.
Transport Director, BK Sharma, who was also present during the press meet, appealed to the people of the state to cooperate with the Transport Department and the Traffic Control Police and follow the laid down rules to reduce traffic congestion.
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