Spike in vehicle sale: Traffic chaos imminent
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: January 10, 2023 -

IN Manipur, where ownership of four-wheeler is an aspiration as individuals get wealthier and two-wheeler is a common gift item in marriage of the Meetei people, a community that gloats of being free from dowry, it's not a surprise that the data released by Federation of Automobile Dealers' Associations (FADA) showed a significant jump in the sale of vehicles of all types in December 2022.

Even more interesting is that the FADA's monthly numeration exercise recorded highest spikes in ownership of three wheelers and passenger vehicles in the same period thereby providing ample evidences for increasing instance of traffic congestion in the urban areas.

As per the FADA compilation, the overall year-on-year (YoY) increase in the sale figure of all types of vehicles is 24.93 per cent with December 2022 recording sale of 5924 vehicles as compared to 4742 in December 2021.

Though details on sale figures for the last 11 months were not made available, it could be conveniently comprehended from traffic problems being encountered on a daily basis that there has been gradual increase in the number of vehicle ownership throughout the year whereas width of almost all the roads, with exception of the national and state highways, has been of the same size since the past many decades.

Another interesting aspect of the data is that Manipur, which is counted among the economically backward states and depends on the benevolence of Union government for almost all infrastructure development projects, recorded increase in sale of various types of vehicles compared to the national average of vehicle ownership witnessing a dip of 5.40 per cent in between December 2021 and December 2022.

There might be different factors for the increasing purchasing power of the denizens, including public and private sector banking establishments as well as authorised motor sale agencies providing hassle-free loan facilities to their customers.

No doubt; increase in ownership of vehicles of varied shape and size underscore better financial position of significant number of the state's population and improvement in the mode of travel at the individual level not to mention about the employability prospects.

However, without commensurate improvement in the transport system the rise in the number of vehicles hitting the road would be problematic sooner than later.

As poor condition of the roads is seen as the primary factor for Manipur lagging behind in the race for development in diverse sectors, the government has been earmarking additional funds for development of road infrastructure with special focus on the state and national highways.

For instance, there has been notable improvement in the condition of the Imphal-Moreh and Imphal-Mao sections of the national highways.

However, the same cannot be said for roads in and around the densely populated twin capital districts due to lack of space for road expansion as such projects would entail huge expenditure in paying land compensation, even at the government-fixed disproportionately low rate.

As worsening of the traffic problem in the coming years is unavoidable at the current rate of private vehicle ownership, it is suggested that the government authorities strive to implement proposed projects such as development of the Imphal ring road, construction of much-hyped elevated highways, facilitating a robust public transport system, expediting process for relocation of major government offices at the planned sites and increasing public parking lots in the urban pockets.