Traffic regulation adds to chaos in bazar area
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 25: With police personnel enforcing traffic regulation in and around the main commercial pockets of Imphal City in the aftermath of the powerful bomb blast at the high security zone of Babupara and detection of another explosive device at Mapal Kangjeibung yesterday general public's inconveniences in entering the market places have visibly increased manifold.

a statement issued by the SP (IW) L Kailun had stated that entry of motor vehicles including two wheelers, rickshaws etc into the main commercial areas (Bazar) would be prohibited with immediate effect to in view of heavy traffic congestion and effectively maintain law and order.

No vehicle seen in this photo view of a road at the commercial centre of Imphal

Informing that ongoing sewerage project works in Bazar areas and increased number of vehicles in the state had compelled police to chalk out traffic regulation exercises, the statement urged transporters as well as general public to avoid entering Bazar areas with vehicles.

More stringent checking will be conducted irrespective of the individual being pass holders or not, said the SP and asked all concerned to park their vehicles on either side of Kangla Pat road, DM College road, beyond Moirangkhom on the south and beyond Sanjenthong on the east.

Further advising general public to be careful and avoid touching any suspicious objects, abandoned vehicles, bags etc, the SP said in case of detecting any suspicious objects information be conveyed to the police through the following telephone numbers of SP (IW) 2450892, 2450159, 9436026263; OC (Imphal PS) 2450002, ]9436026374; OC (City PS) 2458515, 9436023866; and SP/DCR (Imphal) 2450100 .

With entry of vehicles totally prohibited and armed as well as unarmed security personnel manning all the entry points of Paona and Thangal bazar with immediate effect shoppers, shop-keepers and commuters alike had to endure hardships in purchasing goods in bulk.

As the mercury level of approaching summer month is already on the rise people could be seen toiling around in sweat to reach their chosen shop without the comfort of their vehicles.

Nevertheless, on the brighter side of the traffic regulation is the creation of a semblance of spacious ambience enabling the pedestrians to briskly walk through the lanes which was otherwise not possible when such arrangement was not in place.

While there is no restriction in walking on foot, human carriers had to be engaged in carrying out the purchased goods till the points where public and private vehicles are parked.

However, there is no such prohibition in driving on the BT Flyover or parking below the structure particularly from the eastern base till the GM Hall corner on the northern flank and upto Johnstone Hr Sec School wall on the southern end.

parking in these areas obviously had resulted in creating more congestion to the already chaotic traffic scenario as these sites and along the Kangla Pat road parking slots are being allotted to commercial and private vehicles since the last many months.