Discussion on new traffic regulation in Imphal Bazar held
Traffic police in favour of prohibiting entry of vehicles
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 17 2012: The new traffic rule imposed by the state government prohibiting entry of vehicles in Paona and Thangal bazar areas with an aim to reduce the traffic congestion was discussed minutely at the Conference hall of Transport Directorate today along with the media persons and government officials.

The discussion was attended by BK Sharma, Director, Transport; Geetkumar, Chief Town Planner; Nitin Kumar Ujwal, SP, Imphal West; Y Victoria, DSP (Traffic); N Herojit, Additional SP, Imphal West and Editors of various Imphal-based dailies.

During the discussion, BK Sharma explained that the new traffic rule of prohibiting entry of vehicles in Paona and Thangal Bazar areas has been enforced by the state government to mitigate the problem of traffic congestion faced by the people.

Along with that, 17 authorised parking lots in different parts of the city have been allocated.

He informed that the state government is also planning to open up few more parking lots in Imphal city including one over Naga Nullah.

Sharing his views during the discussion, A Mobi, Editor of Sanaleibak and President of All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, noted that one of the main reasons for traffic congestion in Imphal is the increase in the number of Auto Rickshaws plying in the city.

So, the state government should stop issuing licenses to new Auto Rickshaws, he suggested.

The state government should also introduce several ring roads in Imphal area and impose find on violators of traffic rule, he further suggested.

Hemantakumar Ningomba, Editor Hueiyen Lanpao (Manipuri) came out hard on the government officials asking why vehicles were made to park along Paona Bazar, Thangal Bazar, BT Road and MG Avenue Road despite the Cabinet decision of not allowing any type of vehicles to park in these areas.

Hijam Rajesh, Editor, Sangai Express (English) pointed out that laws are meant for everybody irrespective of their status.

There should not be any kind of discrimination whatsoever.

The traffic regulation will be regarded as discriminatory if it permits Army and Police vehicles to enter the no entry zone while prohibiting the vehicles of common people.

Endorsing the new traffic rule prohibiting entry of vehicles and making Thangal and Paona Bazaar areas into pedestrian zone, Geetkumar observed that there is the need to discuss and understand as to who are mainly responsible for congestion in Imphal bazar.

The vehicles brought by the staffs of various schools, offices, banks and shops in the Bazar area and parking them near the shops and offices for quite a long time adds to the traffic congestion.

As such it would be a wise decision to continue with the new traffic rule for some time.

He said that the present traffic regulation is on trial basis for one month only.

If the public obeys the traffic rule, there will be no problem of traffic congestion.

The Police Department is also taking up stringent measures to control the public from parking their vehicles in prohibited areas.

So, the newly imposed traffic regulation should be maintained for some time without any modification whatsoever.

The proposal of deploying semi low floor buses in Imphal city was also taken up during the discussion today.

As the semi low floor buses are under Uniform Metropolitan Traffic Agency, the proposal would be brought up in the TRPC meeting, K Sharma, Transport Director informed.

The Imphal West SP also proposed to the Transport Department for opening up four more parking areas in Imphal city.

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