With monsoon on, slush, potholes adorn roads
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 14 2020: With the onset of monsoon, potholes filled with water dot almost all roads in Imphal and the rural areas causing immense hardships to commuters.

Other than major roads in Imphal, all other roads in various localities and inter villages roads in rural areas are now in deplorable condition.

As slippery roads filled with water logged potholes have caused some minor accidents also, locals are now pointing fingers at the Government.

With monsoon on, slush, potholes adorn roads

In the heart of Imphal, locals of Thangmeiband, Uripok, Keishamthong, Wangkhei, Andro Parking area, Haobam Marak, Khagempalli and Kwakeithel are also facing inconveniences due to the deplorable condition of the roads.

While some locals acknowledged that the present Government has done "more road construction works than the previous Government," they however lamented that there has been little to no road maintenance work.

"The Government's and the authorities' job is not only construction and blacktopping of the roads.

They should carry out maintenance and renovation works at regular intervals to maintain the roads," they said asserting "construct and forget" attitude is the cause for the pathetic condition of the roads at present.

While the Imphal-Moreh road is in good condition with the development works taken up on the highway, one of the alternate and major routes, Mayai Lambi is filled with potholes and cracks at many places.

Even though the roads in Imphal area have improved, most of them are dotted with potholes and cracks causing minor accidents, said locals.

Most of the accidents happen to two wheeler commuters at night due to low visibility at night, they said adding that there is no proper street lighting.

Locals along Mayai Lambi, Imphal-Yairipok road, Kwakeithel to Khagempalli Hudirom Leikai and areas under Wangkhei have similar tales of potholes and slippery roads causing accidents.

Fault on a road at Haobam Marak area is causing problems for the commuters while potholes at Uripok flyover end, Nagamapal to Khwairamband Keithel are inconveniencing many.

Meanwhile in rural areas, people are facing the worst as the majority of the roads are not all weather ones and blacktopped.

With agricultural activities at its peak during the monsoon, the roads are filled with mud, potholes and slush.

"Even as the Government is well aware that the roads would be in deplorable condition during the rainy season, it has done little to nothing to address the issue," many said.

They appealed the Government to carry out maintenance work at regular intervals.

"Carrying out maintenance work regularly can avert larger reconstruction work in future and save the Government some money," said a local of Kwakeithel sarcastically.