The traffic blues
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: March 30, 2015 -

Manipur is perhaps the only state where, in absence of traffic lights, a single traffic cop not trained in modern scientific traffic control and regulation manually manages long motorcades coming simultaneously from three or four directions.

Apart from the inordinate delays at a crossing there is traffic rage since the cop cannot put the drivers in a hurry in check.

The situation is aggravated and confounded as wedding parties and religious processions make it a point to pass through the town roads basically as a show-off.

Since sub-standard or fake traffic lights had been bought and installed these did not last long.

When the first light near Johnstone Higher Secondary school was installed for the first time in Manipur the then Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam made a tom tom of it as if no other state has this facility.

But the fact is that even dirty and nondescript streets in shanty towns have this facility. In any case, the first light became non-functional within a short time.

The manually operating cops are present in some busy crossings from morning till nightfall. Soon after darkness the government leaves the drivers to their own fate.

There had been several fatal accidents resulting from speedy drives to pick up more passengers on the way. Manipur does not have bike borne cops to chase speeding buses.

Besides it is a fact that mostly untrained drivers are on the road as driving licences can be obtained for a price without the officials testing the driving skill of the applicants.

The authority has never established the road worthiness of the vehicles.

What is more, thousands of vehicles which were banned in other states are now plying in Manipur. Apart from air pollution and health hazards these are also posing physical threats to the people.

The traffic cops were not trained in scientific regulation of traffic in a modern city.

Instead of regulating the traffic and pulling up those who violate traffic rules groups of cops were sighted here and there and those who had not paid taxes or possess driving and other documents tell many things and these are not reflected in the official records.

It has become almost impossible to pass through the Imphal town in view of the traffic jam.

Streets and highways are still narrow and cannot accommodate the ever increasing number of vehicles.

Instead of leaving the serious matter to a department and a handful of officials the government should examine the burgeoning problem.

Besides traffic lights which are no luxury should be installed at all busy crossings and cops trained in modern scientific methods to regulate traffic should be deployed.

Motor bike borne cops should be stationed in all highways and district roads to chase the rash drivers.

Wedding parties, religious processions and others should not be allowed to pass through the town and hold traffic for hours.



(Guest Editorial by Iboyaima Laithangbam)