We must indeed welcome the recent state decision to implement ‘pedestrian only’ regulations in the busy Imphal market, even if it is on experimental basis. City managers around the world have implemented pedestrian friendly regulations in long time back, reflecting their sensibility and maturity in dealing with difficult situations. It is not only in relation to city management or traffic regulation, but it is an essential requirement for good governance and development of people friendly policies. On the surface, by this decision we might think that at last our city managers have also come to their senses. However, the temporary nature of the ‘pedestrian only’ regulations again brings to the fore, indecision and adhocism on the part of the state officials. One thing is crystal clear, it is not the result of a well thought out plan. The mayhem created on the first day of implementation in the roads surrounding the main market is a glaring example. Traffic jam is not a recent phenomenon in our city; it has indeed become a permanent feature for the last ten years or more. Traffic officials have been juggling with different methods of traffic control and management. Methods keep changing even on daily basis sometimes. People have become tired of such experimentation and jugglery. We believe, our traffic regulators must have gained lots of experience by now. Why is that ‘experience’ not put to use for development of a long term traffic regulation system in the city. Besides the ‘experience’, we have seen a number of surveys conducted by MAHUD and Town Planning in the recent past. Meanwhile, the state Transport department seem to think, they only a minor role to play in traffic management. While they are busy with identification and award of parking zones outside the market, they had forgotten the expected increase in traffic volume on the rods. They must be made to understand that, it is the job of the Transport Department to develop an effective traffic regulation system along with concerned urban authorities and that traffic officials are only implementers of the system so developed.
We are of the opinion that, this ‘pedestrian only’ regulation in the market area should be regularized for all times sake. And there should not be any exceptions, even for VVIPs and security vehicles. While developing the said system, we should also begin thinking in terms of transforming Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar as a ‘commercial zone’ free from residential quarters. With that, other pedestrian friendly systems like pedestrian over bridges or subways should be introduced in other areas of the city. But, please be firm about the ‘pedestrian only’ regulation in Thangal Bazar and Paona Bazar.