New traffic rules throw up parking mess
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 14 2012:
Whereas pedestrians could move with greater ease at Thangal Keithel and Paona Keithel as a consequence of the new traffic rules enforced since yesterday, severe congestion dogged vehicular traffic on important roads of Imphal city for the second successive day.
The new traffic rules implemented since yesterday on trial basis caused nerve-wracking traffic congestion on Nagamapal road and Kanglapat road as long lines of vehicles, which were denied entry in Thangal Keithel and Paona Keithel, were parked along side these roads.
Between 1 pm and 3 pm during which vehicles were allowed entry into Paona Keithel and Thangal Keithel, the traffic congestion decreased on these said roads.
Notably, the new traffic rules are being enforced between 9 am and 1 pm and then from 3 pm to 5 pm everyday.
During these hours, almost half the breadth of Nagamapal road and Kanglapat road were occupied by all sorts of stationary vehicles for considerable length thereby severely impeding vehicular movement.
As such, many people have started questioning the effectiveness and merits of the new traffic rules.
One Honda Activa dealer based at Khwairamband remarked that the new traffic rules have made Thangal Keithel very spacious besides facilitating free movement of pedestrians.
"However, we do not feel very secure to take money on foot through Thangal Keithel to a bank at MG Avenue in view of the prevailing law and order situation", he said.
Reminded that many people who went away with some substantial amount of money were found shot dead, the automobile dealer said that under such circumstances, one would not like to take any chance by carrying money to bank through the Khwairamband market.
"At about 10.30 am yesterday, I sent a salesman to a bank to deposit certain amount of money but I was uneasy and restless until the salesman came back", he confided.