CM notes growing traffic congestion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 18 2020: Taking note of the growing traffic congestion in Imphal, Chief Minister N Biren today said that the congestion can be attributed to growth of population and number of vehicles whereas there is little expansion of roads and bridges.

Even though the purchase of vehicles suffered a slump at the National level, it grew by 25 per cent in the State, the Chief Minister remarked.

The Chief Minister added that traffic roundels have been minimised and Naga rivulet has been converted into parking space after covering it with slabs.

In addition, the Government has been considering some other major projects to ease traffic congestion like Imphal ring road and elevated highway which would connect Koirengei to Canchipur and then Imphal airport.

The first project would be taken up with loan from ADB in addition to Rs 8.4 crore earmarked in the State budget for the same project.

CM notes growing traffic congestion

As for the second project, the State Government has been seeking necessary fund from the Central Government, Biren said.

The State Government has also been working to limit the routes of all diesel autos coming from different directions to Kwakeithel, Singjamei, Lamlong, Kongba, Sangakpham and Iroisemba while intra-city transport service would be done by buses.

For this, the State Government has sent a proposal to the Central Government to provide 25 e-buses, Biren informed the House.

Moreover, the State Government would launch an initiative of retrofitting 25,000 diesel autos with electric engines so as to reduce the noise pollution caused by diesel autos.

The amount needed for retrofitting would be borne collectively by diesel auto owners and the State Government, he said.

A field assessment has been done to open automated multi-level parking system at Keishampat power house, the lane running to the west of Johnstone Hr Sec School and Kanglapat.

If all these plans and projects can be implemented successfully, traffic congestion in Imphal city can be addressed to a great extent, the Chief Minister said.

While discussing a demand for grant pertaining to Relief and Disaster Management, Biren said that 13 rescue operations were carried out during the last couple of years.

Out of the Rs 16 crore incorporated in the State budget for SDRF, 3-4 per cent would be utilised in purchasing inflatable boats, life jackets, underwater communication sets and personal diving kits.

The Government is also considering to procure speed boats.

The remaining amount would be set aside for providing monetary assistance to victims of natural disasters through respective DCs, Biren said.

In the course of discussing MAHUD's demand for grant, MAHUD Minister Th Shyamkumar said that all urban local bodies are entrusted the same level of power as per relevant Acts.

He said that there was no political agenda behind the suspension of Imphal Municipal Corporation, Lamlai Municipal Council and Lamsang Nagar Panchayat.

The matter is pending at Court and next course of action would be initiated based on the Court's ruling, Shyamkumar said.

IMC has a de-silting machine and it is being used in de-clogging drains at different places, he said.

Regarding the Imphal Smart City Project, Shyamkumar informed the House that the approved cost of the project is Rs 1053 crore which should be shared between the State Government and the Central Government at the ratio of 50:50 .

So far, the Central Government has released Rs 186 crore against which the State Government submitted utilisation certificate for Rs 35 crore.

Integrated Control and Command Centre (ICCC) is one of the many components of a Smart city.

Plans are afoot for inauguration of ICCCs of six North Eastern States by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a single venue in March.

As such, maximum efforts are being invested to complete construction of Imphal ICCC at the earliest, Shyamkumar said.

Out of 13,715 people selected for construction of houses under PMAY within Imphal Municipal area, 1606 beneficiaries belong to Sagolband AC, he said.

Major portions of the Lamdeng waste management plant have been completed.

It is only the power generation section which remains incomplete.

Moreover, the Government has been working to take up 'waste to energy' projects at Imphal, Thoubal, Kakching, Bishnupur and Thongkhong Luxmi Bazar in collaboration with a German company, said the MAHUD Minister.

MLAs K Govindas, K Ranjit, K Meghachandra, RK Imo and O Surjakumar took part in discussing the demands.

Later, the House passed six demands for grant amounting to Rs 1050.80 crore.

The demands for grant passed today were Rs 122, 43, 54, 000 for State Legislature; Rs 6, 50, 84, 000 for Council of Ministers; Rs 100,74,59,000 for Secretariat; Rs 20, 66,41,000 for Transport; Rs 723,55,08,000 for MAHUD and Rs 76,89,89,000 for Relief and Disaster Management.