By Okram Bimol
IMPHAL, December 6: Traffic jams and slow traffic have become a daily routine along most of the roads in Imphal since the past few years which could be attributed to several reasons.
The most important reason is the gradual increase of vehicles in the state and the failure of the state to widen the roads according to the increase in vehicle numbers. The roads as we see today were the same some three decades back.
According to a data available with the IFP, Imphal West has 150982 (approx.) registered vehicles while, Imphal East has 17760 (approx.) as on March 31, 2012.
While, the government seem to lack some creativity in dealing with the issue, the general public nonetheless also lacks understanding and realisation of their duties.
The people of the state seem more interested in flouting traffic rules than in abiding by it. Their only interests seem to be complaining against the government’s failure to take any initiative.
People have no interest in respecting the Zebra crossing rules or to use proper parking spaces.
Footpaths in the bazar area have been used by shops as an extended part of their shops to store their wares, leaving the pedestrians with no other option than to use the roadsides to walk slowing down traffic along the road. The authorities concerned have also failed to take any action on the issue.
Both the authorities and the shop owners need to understand the impacts of their action in slowing down traffic along the road.
The government authorities should make sure that the shops do not encroached upon the footpaths.
A traffic policeman when asked told this IFP reporter that the shopkeepers park their vehicles in front of their shops, hotels and other establishments in the bazar area neglecting all appeals from the authorities not to do so.
They had even started taking actions against such erring shop owners in the bazar area; however they always managed to get out free.
Certain private hospitals and clinics in Imphal and its vicinity have also parking in front of their hospitals along the road sides leading to traffic jams along such roads.
The RIMS road is one such road where several clinics and shops have made the roadsides as their private parking lots leading to congestion in the road.
When asked by this IFP reporter on whether it is legal, a traffic police said, according to a government norm all such establishments should have parking lots inside their own complex.
However, instead of abiding by the government rule, the clinics and private hospitals and some hotels inside the main bazar area have taken permission from the concern authorities to use sides of the roads as their parking lots.
The traffic police on conditions of anonymity had also told this reporter that the clinics and private hospitals had asserted in their application that they have proper parking facilities.
However after the hospitals, clinics and hotels are inaugurated, it is found that they have no parking facilities.
