Leader Writer: Wangkheimayum Bhupendra Singh
Much has been said and a lot more written on the pitiable conditions of the roads in the state. Nevertheless, the roads continue to writhe under prolonged government apathy and the public’s thoughtlessness for the past many years. Although a few of the roads were widened and tarred some years back, today most roads have been reduced to a chain of potholes. Amidst such an ignominious state of affairs, incessant rainfall which has continued during the past few months has only aggravated the condition of most roads in the state. Road inspections have been galore in the state, more so along the national highways, nevertheless, the road conditions have only continued to deteriorate and not much improvement can be witnessed in the past so many years. Not much seems to be moving in the right direction, notwithstanding the almost daily assurances of “everything is okay, we are moving in the right direction” one gets to hear from the government agencies and its players. It is upto everyone’s knowledge that transportation and connectivity are the basic agents of development since time immemorial. Mesopotamia and Indus valley civilizations are two befitting examples of cities which had flourished by settling along river banks. The government’s apathy or lack of interest in the development or maintenance of the roads, coupled with the general public’s insensitivity towards the issue has only created havoc for the roads in the state. People have never shied away from digging up the tarred roads during the frequent agitations launched in one part or the other in the state on a daily basis or during laying of pipes for personal water connections. During such process, the people seem to forget that in the long run it will only affect them and no one else. The dug out portions or the potholes which are never filled up only aggravate during the rainy season. Nevertheless, the mannerism of the people, which though quite surprising and uncalled for manage to dodge public outcry which is even more surprising.
That, Manipur has one too many problems including the aforementioned which has continued to harm the state on all fronts including the economy for a prolonged and indefinite time frame, is more or less, a fact hard to be denied or dismissed. However, the issue of the road conditions in the state is of utmost concern. Prolonged negligence has left the roads deplorable. Now once the monsoon is over, people can only expect dust and for anyone driving a two wheeler or for a pedestrian, the experience is of the worst kind. However, people have this uncanny habit of getting habituated to whatever one is exposed to over an extended period of time. And in the case of Manipur, the people, with a soft murmur of complain under their breath, seem to accept and adjust to driving on roads in deplorable conditions.