Roads no longer fit for rising number of motor vehicles
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 15 2016: The number of vehicles has been literally swelling in the State since the past 10 years or so thereby contributing immensely to traffic congestion in and around Imphal city. It is not only small cars.

There are a large number of big, costly and luxurious cars.

Even though some major roads have been expanded, they are still unable to cope with the fast multiplying number of vehicles.

Traffic congestion and related problems in Imphal city cannot be attributed to diesel autos and Tata Magic vans alone.

The ever increasing number of private vehicles which also include a considerable number of big and luxurious cars have also been contributing immensely to traffic congestion.

The Transport Department has been estimating that there are around three lakh four-wheelers in the State.

Traffic Circus

A large number of these private vehicles are parked on road sides as the owners do not have enough parking spaces within their residential compounds.

As such, many of the expanded roads are as good as before they were expanded.

Even though diesel autos are often blamed for traffic congestion, the breadth of road occupied by a diesel auto is smaller than the space occupied by a big, luxurious car.

One Roneljit of Sagolband told The Sangai Express that car loan melas held in front of the SBI MG Avenue branch office have been causing severe traffic problems as and when they are held.

Car loan melas were held for at least 10 days in a month.

This severely aggravated traffic congestion on busy MG Avenue.

He went on to ask if the car loan melas were held with due permission, and if yes, from whom the permission was obtained.

Whereas people have been enduring difficulties in crossing the high median of Tiddim Road, people don't face any such problem in front of Classic Hotel, Roneljit said.

One Ng Prafullo of Moirangkhom expressed keen desire for modification of the traffic island of Kangla Westen Gate.

People/vehicles coming from BT Flyover, BT Road, Keishampat, Khoyathong and the General Post Office all converge at the traffic island which often result in traffic jam.

The traffic island needs to be modified and shrunk to some extent, Prafullo said.