JAC strike still on, commuters hit for second day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 09 2016: The indefinite agitation launched by the Joint Administrative Council of All Manipur (Under Five Ton) Passenger Service against the State Transport Department's order to implement one-time taxing system evoked mixed responses on the second day today.

At the same time, the JAC has decided to surrender route permit, RC book to the Directorate of Transport if the authority concerned fails to revoke the order at the earliest.

Passenger vehicles including Petrol auto, Diesel auto, Tata Magic, Winger etc stayed off the roads for the second day supporting the protest which was launched from May 6 midnight.

Even though the agitation created serious inconveniences to commuters who use public transport system, there was minimal traffic jams on all major roads leading to Imphal city and also in Khwairamband keithel.

Inter-district passenger vehicles stayed off the road.

Meanwhile, service of passenger vehicles which are above five tons like bus service remained unaffected.

In an interaction with The Sangai Express, a vegetable vendor Th Bina from Nambol commented that the agitation launched by the Joint Administrative Council of All Manipur (Under Five Ton) Passenger Service is justifiable but the difficulty faced by the public is something which was never experienced before.

Due to the agitation, vendors are facing shortages of vegetables as there are no transportation facilities available to collect products from distant places, she added.

Further, she said that authorities concerned should take prompt steps to bring an amicable solution at the earliest before any untoward incidents happen.

"Such agitation not only brings inconveniences to public but will also have an adverse impact on the economy of the State," Bina assumed.

Thounaojam Chitra another trader at Kwakeithel bazar highlighted that the agitation has created a situation where public commuters have to wait for more than one hour to find means of transportation to cover certain distance.

She added that even though the agitation has created opportunities for rickshaw pullers to earn more money, the inconvenience is unbearable.

A commuter expressed his opinion that the agitation launched by the Joint Administrative Council of All Manipur (Under Five Ton) Passenger Service to stay off the roads against the State Transport Department's order to implement one-time taxing system has created minimal traffic volume in the heart of Imphal city.

Moreover the noise pollution is reduced to a certain degree that people are feeling safe to walk around.

"Traffic congestion has reduced to a limit and Imphal city must have never experienced such reduced traffic," he added.

On the other hand the Joint Administrative Council of All Manipur (Under Five Ton) Passenger Service today in a statement alleged that the authorities concerned have failed to take any positive steps in the larger interest of the people.

The JAC has set a deadline to the State Govt to revoke the State Transport Department's order to implement one-time taxing system by May 10 .

The council has decided to surrender route permit, RC book to the Directorate of Transport, the statement added.

Further it has urged the people to support the genuine cause of the council.

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