Govt moots public transport system
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 03 2015:
Taking due note that all public transport services are being operationalised by private individuals, the State Government has been considering re-introduction of public transport systems as and when Imphal is transformed into a Smart City.
OSD (Transport) BK Sharma said that the total length of the road networks located within Imphal Municipal Corporation is 260 Kms and no public transport system operate on these road networks.
With the exception of Imphal-Churachandpur, Imphal-Mao and Imphal-Sugnu routes, no public transport system operate on the other routes.
Private transporters started operating on all routes leading to Imphal, after the Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) became non-operational.
Before this, private transporters and public transport systems were operating on a comparable scale.
Following replacement of public transport systems by intermediate public transport systems, Imphal city started witnessing a serious problem of traffic congestion.
Passenger carriers like auto-rickshaws, Magic vans and Winger vans have reached 7000 while the total number of light vehicles and two-wheelers has reached around two lakh, BK Sharma said.
Taking due note of the ever growing traffic congestion in Imphal city, the State Cabinet has already considered re-introduction of public transport system along with formulation of a State transport policy, he continued.
The Government has also been considering to let intermediate public transporters which have been already issued permits operate feeder services (transportation of passengers up to main roads and back) .
Highlighting the importance of allotting adequate parking spaces at proper places, BK Sharma informed that there is a proposal to convert all the basements of the three Ima Keithels into parking lots in addition to construction of multi-car parking lots.
Due measures have also been initiated to introduce e-rickshaws at Imphal as a pilot project.
The department has already selected a nodal agency and the new initiative is expected to reduce noise pollution,said the OSD further.
The Ministry has already asked the State Government to allot necessary space for development of charging centres for the e-rickshaws, he added.