NH 102 blocked; median, road turning lanes inspected
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, November 24 2022:
In view of frequent occurrence of accidents following expansion of National Highway 102 from Lilong to Wangjing, MPCC president and MLA K Meghachandra accompanied by Thoubal DC Ahanthem Subash, SP Jogeshchandra and representatives of NHIDCL along with locals inspected the road medians and road turning lanes near Babu Bazar on Thursday.
Vendors found operating over drains of the highway stretch near Babu bazar were also removed during the inspection.
Speaking in this regard, MLA Meghachandra contended that frequent accidents along the highway is due to the road medians constructed in front of Babu Bazar as it directly opposite to linking roads of villages on the western side of the bazar.
As such, discussions have been held to shift the road medians and install a flood light in Babu bazar area after consulting with the electricity department.
According to DC Subash, the inspection was carried out considering the frequent road accidents in the area and also recalled the latest accident on Wednesday where a woman riding two wheeler died after she was hit by a car.
He said that the road turning lane located directly opposite to the road coming out from villages will be realigned or shifted and added that construction of road medians by district administration and NHIDCL along the Trans Asian Highway is for the people as the vehicles will drive in high speed in the highway.
The DC further urged not to destroy the road medians.
Earlier in the day, locals of Khangabok, auto and magic drivers, clubs and organisations blocked NH 102 for a while and destroyed road medians in front Khangabok High School over inadequate median turning lanes along the highway.
However, the obstruction was cleared and free passage allowed along the road by Thoubal police.
Later, the protestors convened a public meeting at BASU ground wherein a Khangabok local named Thochom Kiran denounced inadequate median turning lanes along the highway in the area which has a population of about 30,000 people.
In other areas of the district namely Wangjing, Athokpam, Wangbal, Lilong, Haokha and Wangmataba, 20-metre wide median turning lanes are maintained.
However, making a 5-metre median turning lanes in Khangabok is unfortunate, he denounced, while recalling that a memorandum was also submitted to authorities of NHIDCL in this regard.
He cautioned of launching intense protests including highway blockade if proper lighting system and reflection system are not installed within a week as three people have already died in the turning area.
Later, DC and representatives of NHIDCL met the protestors and came to an understanding, with both parties agreeing on widening the median turning
lane by 6 metres.