A Thought On Sanjenthong: Bridging the twin districts
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 06 2014 :
Around eleven in the morning, bikes of all hues and hordes of four wheelers seem heading towards the Imphal east.
It's hectic time coupled with the chaotic traffic management around the Sanjenthong Bridge.
To every commuter, crossing the Sanjenthong at this hour remains a tricky task.
The scenario is more unruly during the movement of VIP vehicles or any marriage party.
Constructed in the 1960s, Sanjenthong lies at the junction between VIP colonies of Imphal east and that of Imphal west district.
Important persons ranging from Ministers, MLAs, high ranking administrators and security personnel to Heads of various departments reside at the vicinity of this old and outdated Bridge.
It is also the important meeting point of the two districts.
At the western side lies the Raj Bhavan, Chief Minister's Bungalow, VIP quarters of Babupara, Old and new Secretariat, Post office, BSNL headquarters, Khwairamband market, etc.
Similarly, significant establishments such as the VIP bungalows, Agriculture office, Veterinary & AH office, Forest office, City Convention Auditorium, Govindaji temple complex, Bheigyachandra Open Air Theatre, MFDC auditorium, All India Radio station, etc.
are housed around the Sanjenthong in the heart of Imphal East district.
It is the most frequented bridge for those heading to JNIMS hospital, DDK Imphal station and DC Office of Imphal east every day.
Since Imphal was bifurcated into Imphal East and Imphal West districts to meet the exigencies of administration, there have been gradual improvements of the district, which in turned have also invited more traffic flows from other places to Imphal East district headquarters.
Earlier, number of people on the eastern side of Imphal district heading towards western side outnumbered that of people who went to the east.
Today, it seems that quantum of traffic from the west to the east has become bigger than those moving from the east to the west, thereby rendering the Sanjenthong bridge overcrowded and inefficient to load the burden of heavy traffic during primetime.
To improve connectivity between Imphal East and other districts, the widening and improvement (to be contd) .