Road expansion inevitable, says Minister
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 07 2014: Stating that any further delay in expanding all the roads in the State, particularly those within the capital districts, would lead to serious problem in the coming years, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar said need for widening the road even in the commercial areas upto 150 feet wide cannot be overlooked.

Speaking as the chief guest at a workshop on 'Road Safety Audit and Mitigation Measures' organised today by the Public Works Department at its Khoyathong office campus conference hall, Dr Ratankumar noting problems likely to be faced if road expansion work is delayed any further highlighted that road expansion is inevitable to ensure unhindered movement of people as well as essential items.

With road expansion work unavoidable the Government of Manipur too needs to earmark necessary fund from its own source, said the Minister while conceding that both motorists and pedestrians using the same 125 feet wide road is a contributory factor for frequent unwanted incidents.

Asking contractors to ensure that prescribed norms for maintaining quality control is strictly complied with to reduce accidents, he also appealed to motorists to avoid rash driving.

Dr Ratankumar, who also holds the Transport portfolio, strongly advocated involvement of the general public in awareness campaigns about road safety.

As part of road safety measures, motor rally, panel discussion, painting competition, penalties against traffic rules offenders, etc should be disseminated to the common people, opined the Minister.

According to Head of Department (Civil) of Manipur institute of Technology Th Suresh Singh the rate of casualty from motor-related mishaps has declined in recent years even though there is no respite from the number of accidents.

In all 151 people perished out of 356 accidents recorded in the State in 2008, with the toll recorded at 125 out of 578 mishaps the following year while it was 154 dead from 602 accident cases, detailed the MIT faculty member.

It is also said that in 2011 there were 692 road accidents that claimed 154 lives, 2012 recording 158 victims out of 692 accidents while 158 died last year that had 771 cases of accidents.

LEA Associates' Road Safety Specialist Dr TS Reddy was the resource person during the technical session on 'Road Safety' .

Among others, PWD chief Engineer M Lokendro Singh and former CE (PWD) Th Joykumar Singh also attended the workshop.

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