Frequent changes in traffic rules
Lack of communications lead to confusion
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 20, 2012 -

Caught in traffic snarl : In the absence of proper traffic management travelling on the roads of Imphal has become a hellish experience - Pix :: Hueiyen Lanpao

One cannot deny that traffic congestion in and around Imphal city have increased tremendously in the past few years leading to long traffic jam and constant congestion in traffic movements in major parts of the city.

While the increased in traffic congestion is credited with the increased in the number of private and public transport vehicles as well, it is the poor traffic management of the Traffic Police Department of the state which causes the frequent traffic congestion in the city.

Meanwhile we also cannot ignore the wideness of the roads in and around the city and its traffic volume. Adding to the chaos are the commuters who ignore proper traffic rules while commuting in the roads of the Imphal city.

The traffic police in the state are facing this problem for the time first time in the city even though we have witnessed some minor increased in traffic volume in the past.

This can be taken as the reason behind the poor traffic management in the city. In order to solve the problems of the ever increasing traffic congestion, the government is introducing new traffic norms from times to times mostly on trial basis to see if they can solve the problem and ease the increasing congestion.

As a result, commuters who frequent Imphal city often face lots of confusion and traffic chaos due to the frequent changes in the traffic norms.

There was this traffic policeman posted under the over-bridge at Uripok Machin who asked an auto driver on whom I was travelling to go back at Uripok and come along Nagamapal through RIMS road.

However, another traffic policeman posted at the RIMS road told the auto driver to go back at RIMS road since no autorikshaw can pass through Nagamapal Road towards Wahengbam Leikai, citing a clear example of lack of communication among the traffic police personnel causing lots of confusion to the commuters.

Moreover the frequent changes in traffic norms and parking spaces of the passenger vehicles simply add chaos and confusion among those who frequent Imphal city.

While we just cannot completely ignore the efforts of the government to ease traffic congestions in the city, we also cannot deny the fact how the government like a novice in the matter handles the problems and execute new temporary norms every now and then on hit and trial methods.

On the other hand, public as well as drivers of the passenger vehicles should also follow the traffic rules provided by the government to simplify the problems of traffic congestions.

One can often see how vehicles line up in chaos in rush hours at major places in the city, each vehicles blocking the other coming from the opposite direction.

Sometimes, vehicles lined up from 6 to 7 columns in Wahengbam Leikai Road with each vehicle trying to take pass from the other thereby blocking vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

If only the person driving the vehicles follow the traffic rules properly and have the sense of obligation towards a good citizen, the problems would have been reduced to a large extent.

Coming to the point, it is necessary for the government to chalk out proper traffic norms which can be implemented for a longer period by studying traffic systems of other major cities and counselling professional counsellors.

And on the other hand, public should also render full support to the government in the matter by following traffic rules properly with a sense of obligation to bring out a possible solution into the matter. The government should also imply strict penalty for those who violate traffic rules.