Mall Road fades into oblivion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 13 2025: Not long ago, Mall Road was lit with lights and people strolling on it to gaze at its beauty.

Now, the road, constructed under Imphal Smart City Mission, has lost all its shine.

Constructed strictly as a pedestrian road, the road is free to all vehicles.

What is baffling is the presence of vehicle parking spaces on the pedestrian road.

The Mall Road runs between Khwairamband Kei- thel No 1- Leimarol Shidabi Ima Keithel and Keithel No 3-Phouoibi Ima Keithel.

Imphal was among 100 cities selected by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in 2016 for implementing the Smart City Mission.

The Mall Road (Thangal road) was constructed under the mission by the Manipur Police Housing Corporation under Imphal Smart City Limited.

Mall Road fades into oblivion

The phase I of the road from flyover bridge to Kas-turi bridge (700 metres) was constructed at a cost of Rs 9.5 crore.

The construction started in 2019 .

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the road virtually on January 4, 2022 .

The mall was constructed differently from all other roads in Imphal.

It was intended to be a road where people coming to the busy market could actually enjoy the beauty of it, rest, seek respite and learn about the State's culture and history.

When the road was completed, it attracted many people, especially at night-time.

With beautiful benches and rows of lamps lighting up the night time, people were seen strolling on the road, taking pictures and sharing them on social media.

Now, all that remains of the road are empty benches, the lamps and a sign plate installed at the entry point.

All the other characters of the road and the shine it had 3 years ago have vanished.

The only difference between the Mall road and all the other roads remains the benches and the rows of lamps.

Imphal Smart City Limited Chief Executive Officer, Thingbaijam Harikumar said heavy traffic and lack of parking space are primary reasons for Mall road losing its shine.

He said the Phase II of the road from Kasturi bridge to Khoyathong will be completed and dedicated to the public in May this year.

Earlier, the road was popular among the people.

The public admired it, and people were seen taking strolls on it.

This changed after May 3, 2023 violence, Harikumar said.

The shine of the road will return once people return.

Also, people, especially those residing around should take care of the road and help preserve it, he added.

Laishram Memma, who sells bangles at Khwairamband, shared that the Mall Road, like all other projects, has suffered due to poor maintenance.

"Earlier, people coming to the market were able to rest on the road.

Now, people can't anymore," she said.

The Mall Road was meant to be strictly a pedestrian road, but vehicles can be seen on it, she said.

Earlier when the road was new, security personnel were very strict and no vehicles were allowed to enter the road, she said.

"There is no owner now.

Everyone is doing whatever they want.

Sometimes they stop (vehicles), sometimes they don't.Those (security personnel) who want to stop vehicles stop them, those who don't want to stop, allow vehicles to enter the road," Memma said.

"Imphal shouldn't be smart only on paper," Memma said, appealing to authorities concerned to ensure Mall Road reclaims its lost shine.

A security personnel, who doesn't want to be named, said vehicle entry restriction is in place at night-time only.

There is no restriction to vehicles entering the road during daytime.

However, there is restriction at night-time, said the security personnel.

In sharp contrast to traffic rules in place as told by the security personnel, Smart City CEO Harikumar said the Mall Road was constructed strictly as a pedestrian road and the bye-laws drawn for the project prohibit vehicles from plying on the road.

When Mall Road was completed and opened, some confrontations did break out between the security personnel, authorities and residents along the road for not allowing entry of their vehicles, Harikumar said.

To resolve the issue, the Chief Minister at that time had started a rotary parking system on the bank of Nambul River, he said.

The issue regarding entry of vehicles may be resolved once the ongoing construction of a parking facility at Khwairamband completes, he added.

Significantly, there was a gate installed to stop vehicles from entering the road.

Now, only the support poles are standing.

Yengkhom Sumila, a woman vendor said when Mall Road was opened, it beautified the market.

The opening of Mall Road affected sales, but had the project for construction of the road included a proper parking space, it could have solved all the issues including the impact on sale of goods, she said.

Saikhom Victoria, who was visiting the market from Malom, said, "The failure of the Mall Road is a failure for all" .

"The success of Mall Road as a Smart City project requires sincere efforts from the authorities and the public as well.

Just as the authorities are, people are also responsible for the failure of the Mall Road," she said.