IMPHAL, Aug 2 : Senapati District Police have taken up a slew of measures for the safety of transporters and passengers along Imphal-Dimapur highway including installation of CCTV cameras, introduction of speed guns, deployment of additional police personnel etc.
A team of the All Manipur Road Transport Drivers and Motor Workers Union (AMRTDMWU) and some media persons went to Senapati today.
Speaking to the visiting team, Senapati SP Kabib K said that the district police have initiated different initiatives for the safety and security of passengers and transporters.
In the first phase, high resolution CCTV cameras have been installed at Mao police station today. Similar CCTV cameras would be installed at Tadubi, Senapati, Kangpokpi and Saparmeina police stations.
Due arrangements are being made to install two to four CCTV cameras at each police station. The new initiative would help police in tracing vehicles in case they go missing.
In case a vehicle breaks down or a driver faces difficulties, he may pull up his vehicle at the nearest police station.
To reduce incidence of highway robbery, extortion and abductions, 15 additional police teams have been deployed at vulnerable points, said the SP.
Due preparations have also been initiated to closely monitor Kuki militant groups under SoO pact as well as other militant groups which are outside such pacts, he continued.
Many other measures have also been taken up to reduce road accidents.
District police have procured speed guns. Using these equipment, vehicles travelling beyond permissible speed limits would be pulled up and fined according to rules.
There would be prohibition on movement of heavy vehicles along the highway between 8.30 and 9.30 in the morning and 2.30 and 3.30 in the afternoon. The new measure has been initiated in the interest of school going children.
If the vehicles must move along the highway during these hours, they must travel at a reduced speed, said the SP.
Erection of ‘slow down’ sign-boards at different places where schools are located along the highways has also been started.
The new measures have been initiated in collaboration with the Senapati DC at the instruction of the DGP.
Large stickers embossed with the words ‘Manipur Police’ have been pasted in all the vehicles belonging to Senapati District Police.
The AMRTDMWU team along with members of the Senapati District Drivers Welfare Union also met leaders of the Surface Transport Eco and Environment Society, Nagaland at Zakhama.
There AMRTDMWU general secretary Maimom Anil Meitei told media persons that transporters have been facing lots of difficulties along the highway both in Nagaland and Manipur for the past many years.
Apart from abduction and physical harassments, many drivers have been killed. The three transport organisations have been asking the authorities to address these problems.
He then lauded the measures taken by the Senapati District Police for the safety of transporters and passengers.
He said that the three organisations would put forward their grievances before the Government of Nagaland too.
Surface Transport Eco and Environment Society, Nagaland general secretary Bipin Sophie said that one major problem encountered by transporters is presence of too many check points along the highway.
For instance, there are three check gates at Khuzama alone and transporters are forced to cough up money at all these check points, Bipin Sophie said.
