IMPHAL, April 30: Following the closure of Sanjenthong Bridge which connects the twin districts of Imphal, there was unprecedented traffic jam in the capital today. The bridge was closed as the construction work for building a new bridge with four lanes is going to be taken up by the government.
Commuters had to take a different route at Minuthong and Thongbuthong. The impact of the diversion was felt at most part of the capital. Vehicles were seen stranded for more than hours at different places like the Kanglapat road, Nitaipat Chuthek, the Babupara roads and North AOC. The traffic round about in front of the western gate of Kangla and the Raj Bhavan saw the highest number of veicles crawling at the snail pace.
The traffic police had a hard time controlling the vehicles. There was bumper to bumper traffic in most of the places. A frequent commuter has complained that the authority should plan for a proper diversion before closing the bridge. He maintained that office goers and vehicles ferrying school children are the one who are going to be affected most.
Meanwhile the link roads in and around the area ofBrahmapur, Wangkhei Thangapat, Checkon, Hatta Golapati witness a large number of vehicles crowding the small lanes.
NNN adds: In view of the dismantling of the existing Sanjenthong Bridge for construction of a new bridge, an order has been issued by the director of Transport, M. Luikham, Manipur regarding the regulation of traffic movement, parking and routes in respect of all categories of vehicles in Imphal city area. The new arrangements for traffic movement, route and parking have come to immediate effect from April 29, 2014 and will be exercised till April 28, 2015.
The road connecting Dingku Road and MMTA road (Pandon/Commando Complex) and the road adjacent to the Imphal river connecting Tinsid road and Minuthong are declared one-way roads and the vehicular movements would be from South to North direction. All commuters of Khuman Lampak Stadium should exit through the two roads or Minuthong.
On the other hand, passenger vehicles plying from Imphal East namely Tinsid Road, Ukhrul Pangei road side towards Imphal West should come to Imphal
West should come to Imphal through Khurai Lamlong Bridge passing Dingko Road, Chingmeirong, Khongnang Ani Karak, North AOC and on the Eastern side of NH2 from Hotel City to Aaj Kal dresses where passenger may be set down and return from Minuthong road crossing MMTA, Khuman Lampak Pandon road, Dingko road and Lamlong bridge.
All diesel auto rickshaws and other commercial vehicles plying between Imphal, Pologround parking through Yairipok Kongba road, Keikhu Pangong, Kongba Laishram Leikai should come by Kongba Bazar across Kongba Nandeibam Leikai road, Khongman Mangjin, Singjamei bridge, NH2 Singjamei bazaar, Chinga traffic point, Singh and Co Moirangkhom, ARM, Nityaipat Chuthek and pologround parking via BT road and return on the same route via Governor’s road.
All diesel auto rickshaws and other commercial vehicles plying from Wangkhei Ayangpali road and Kshetrigao Thambalkhong road should come via Wangkhei Puja Lampak junction through Thangapat Mapal, Bamol Leikai Laishram Leirak, Brahmapur Aribam Leikai road, New Thumbuthong bridge, Loklaobung NH2, Singh and Co Moirangthem, ARM, Nityaipat Chuthek, M Sector Museum road, Pologround parking via BT road and return on the same route via Governor’s road.
All diesel auto rickshaws and other commercial vehicles plying from Top Khongnangkhong Porompat road, Nongmeibung road should come to Pologround parking via Konung Mamang Charlie through Wangkhei road or Palace Compound City Convention road, Wangkhei Puja Lampak, Thangapat Mapal or Nhaba, New Thumbuthong via Laishram Leirak, NH2, Singh and Co Moirangkhom, ARM, Nityaipat, M Sector Museum road, Pologround parking via BT road and return on the same route via Governor’s road.
All diesel auto rickshaws and other commercial vehicles plying from Mantripukhri side, Pangei side, Imphal Ukhrul road, Tinsid road and Khurai Lamlong etc should come via Khongnang Karak or Khurai Lamlong bridge through Khongnang Karak, North AOC traffic point, LIC traffic point, Koyathong traffic point, Nagamapal road and the setting down and picking up of passengers may be allowed on the southern side of Nagamapal traffic Kangjabi Sulabh (on the eastern side of Nagamapal road) and return via Nagamapal road, Khoyathong traffic point, Thangmeiband road, Lilasing Khongnangkhong, Khongnang Karak, Dingku road, Lamlong bridge or D.M. road.
All the wingers, tata magics etc plying via Indo-Myanmar road and now parking in front of Indira park should come via Singjamei bridge or New Thumbuthong towards Imphal East through Singjamei Kongba road or Khongman Mange Makhong, Khongman Mangjin junction, Kongba Nandeibam Leikai road, Kongba Wangkhei road, Konung Mamang Charlie, New Checkon road, Minuthong bridge, Kekrupat where settling down and picking up of passengers should be done and return via North AOC traffic point, LIC traffic point, Western gate of Kangla Charlie, Nityaipat Chuthek, ARM, Singh and Co Moirangkhom to their respective destination.
Further, the order also stated that road users and public in general in public interest for convenience are requested to opt for the routes namely Lamlong bridge, Minuthong, Old Thumbuthong, New Thumbuthong (Loklaobung) and Singjamei bridge for commuting between Imphal east and Imphal West.
The order is issued as per recommendation of the Superintendent of Police, Imphal West vide letter no 2/56.SP-IW/2014 dated April 28, 2014 and in pursuance of the notification issued by the PWD, Manipur vide no EE/Bridge-Divn/2014/13 dated April 26, 2014.