ISBT rots under gross negligence, apathy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 14 2022: Apathy and negligence is writ large over the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) located at Khuman Lampak as the approach road leading to it has been reduced to a puddle of mud and slush dotted with huge potholes.

The bus terminus was constructed not so long back but today it is filled with potholes almost the size of small ponds , apart from not having any proper facilities.

Due to these lack of infrastructure and Government apathy, the bus terminus is now of service only to some Ukhrul and Saikul bound passenger buses and some Wingers.

Moreover most of the vehicles, including Winger taxi service bound for the said two destinations pick up and drop passengers just outside the ISBT, adding to the traffic chaos on the busy Dingku Road.

ISBT rots under gross negligence, apathy

As the ISBT campus is not fit for parking, almost all the buses and other vehicles providing Imphal-Guwahati, Imphal-Shillong and Imphal-Dimapur passenger services have been using North AOC and Kekrupat as their parking lots to pick up and drop passengers.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a member of All Manipur Inter-State Bus and Allied Transport Association, Hanjabam Tarunkumar said that the deplorable conditions of ISBT complex is not only troubling the transportation service providers but also the passengers as the bus terminus lacks many facilities.

He said that they have no other options than to park their vehicles at Kekrupat but it often causes traffic congestion.

He also claimed that unloading the belongings of passengers at the roadside is also very irritating as property loss is a common occurrence while police personnel randomly collect illegal tax from the bus drivers for unloading content on the footpath.

Utilising Kekrupat as a parking spot is also a problem to the passengers due to the absence of bus stands, Tarunkumar said.

One of the passengers Sanabam Romeo said that upgrading the ISBT at Khuman Lampak would be of convenience to both the bus drivers and the passengers.

The ISBT, apart from having numerous potholes, doesn't have proper medical, toilet and drinking water facilities.

As per the secretary of All Manipur Inter-State Bus and Allied Transport Association Thingbaijam Chandrakumar, the association has sent a number of memoranda to the State Government to revelop ISBT, but no initiative has been taken so far for the convenience of transport service providers and passengers.

He also expressed desire for the Government to build booking counters and godowns inside the ISBT complex.

It is reported that a number of degenerates assemble at ISBT complex every night and carry out unethical activities.