Ring Road Need for sustainable development

Dr NC Shanta *

A map showing the route of Imphal Ring road :: Pix - TSE

Planning is important to implant for any execution of development. That is why planning is in preceded of development. No development can take place without pre-discussion and pre-interaction including micro level development throughout. But, the involvers who move and oppose the plan or proposed plan should have sound and enough minded qualification to sustain the term development. Here, in Manipur when the proposed ring road is to move it looks fragile and not for sustainable development. Why does it so? All are needed to discuss the implanting of ring road.

What is ring road? Talking about the ring road itself shows one can see the ring road that had never before. We have automatic road and enforcing road. Of the two, automatic road may be of ring or circle or square or triangle is made through the habitation and socio-economic venture of the people whether rural or urban.

On the other hand, enforced road is in the form of compulsion, may be in any style as in automatic made through the authority or government before or after the complexities of the population. These are the two strategies to apply for the construction of roads throughout the world. Thus, the need for the construction of ring road is based on the complexities of population in and around the cities and to divert it.

The proposed ring road at Imphal areas is not in a proper way in the simple circle form. Physically, it shows a zig zag and not in a good nomenclature. The total area covered by this ring road is approximately 46 km length and a wide of 30 metres. The total amount for the construction of this road which is going to be sanctioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is Rs. 346 cores which is to be distributed Rs. 8.17 crore per km approximately.

The area covered by this ring road is touching the two districts (Imphal west and Imphal east) with an unequal manner. The zero point of Imphal west is at Nityaipat Chuthek between Kangla and Governor's Bungalow. On the other hand, zero point of Imphal east is at Porompat traffic point or surrounding the point.

The distance between these two points of Imphal east and Imphal west is approximately one or one and half km. The ring road covers up to the extend of Imphal east through Ayangpalli road crossing the zero point of Imphal east at Porompat between Lamlong and Kongba road. It is the farthest to reach the eastern side of Imphal east from the zero point of Imphal west by this ring road.

On the other hand, the farthest ring road border area is at Iroisemba and Game village. But, the distance covered by the ring road of Imphal West is about five (5) kms. It shows the partiality of development on road connectivity between Imphal West and Imphal East Districts. The road passing in Imphal West through ISKCON is also too short and better to cover some other areas.

Again the road covering Chingmeirong area is also too short. Further, by enclapping the NH and passing through the main areas of High Court and new Secretariat Complex, the road is needed to shift. The road is needed to shift again from the area of Chaithabi Leirak to engulf and covering the areas of most of the nearby Imphal East District around Porompat up to Top western road touching Kshetrigao and reaching up to Naharup or Bamon Kampu. Then it can reach Langthabal through Lairenpat between Keirao A/C and Thongju .

One of the most important things for the road connectivity between Game Village and Khabam Lamkhai is that it is too long to connect. But it might be shorter to make new road directly between these two points instead of long distance through Lilashing Khongnang khong and Khongnang Ani Karak passing the most sensitive NH at High Court and New Secretariat Complex .

If new possible short cut road is constructed by cutting the hilly areas then the cost of new road might be useful for this local areas at its development or new road may be constructed at the foot of hill to reach Khabam Lamkhai. If it is possible, it can reduce the complexities of the population and vehicles at the NH through Khongnang Ani Karak and High Court with new secretariat.

Then, the road length of the ring road may be expanded to the Imphal East areas with the saving amount of cost after shortening the length of road to reach Khabam Lamkhai; and it can cover the most part of nearby areas such as Khurai, Kshetrigao and Thongju A/C at the same cost to be expending for the road.

The newly constructing ring road is mainly to develop the Imphal East and West areas through a sustainable way. Thus, the construction should be maintained and handled carefully on proper way. The word "Sustainable" means the development through present generation without any environmental impact and good for future generation. If it is to be accepted, the present ring road pattern or proposed ring road is very highly corrupted and not in a sustainable way. The present ring road encloses the presence of infiltration of many zig – zag things, such as –

i) The concept of ring road is not clearly mentioned.

ii) The ring road itself clarifies not to passing through the cities or nearby cities. But, the proposed ring road itself shows passing city directly at Imphal East zero point and passing the NH at Chingmeirong and High Court areas with the New Secretariat Complex where most of the officials and other people will be exposed there.

iii) The rights of indigenous people of many residences where the ring road is affecting are not known by the Government.

iv) The impact of environmental imbalance is also a serious concern, when the carbon, dust, garbage and many other things to be piling up which was a scene of environmental balance and eco-friend before.

v) A total discussion or micro-level planning is failed for the proposed ring road. The said fund i.e., the fund of Asian Development Bank through South Asian Socio-economic Cooperation should not be used in a fatigue way ,rather it should be codified with many implications without any meaningless.

vi) The work for the ring road is in the form of speedy, in accordance with the fund without any accuracy. But, it should have a steady discussion, a proper examination, input and output analysis, cost and benefit analysis, etc. In this regard government needs to hire someone who knows about the technical solution in the state. It should not think to try to loot the fund rather it should think for the sustainable development of the future generation.

Thus, the construction for the ring road should be assessed clearly with all the social, economic and environmental impacts. It is also said that, by 2030, Imphal city would be cross 5 lacks vehicles. And the present registered vehicles are 2,22,234 as on March 31st, 2014. But, it is unfortunate to say that the new ring road will help many connectivity among various important institutions of the state like Manipur University, RIMS, JENIMS, Assembly, High Court and new Secretariat complex, office of DC, etc., where all are in and near the cities.

But, the actual system of the ring road should not be in touching with complexes or nearby complexes. In Imphal, most of these offices/institutions are in and around the cities but they need to be passing through by pass roads from the ring road. It does not seem to be understood whether the ring road is either inner or outer ring road or more or don't say ring road, please.

Lot of money is now funding from ADB. Why should the government put a basket of mock to construct such a big development through impairing position. Don't think for money, please. Since, the ring road is constructing to divert the explosive population and vehicles from the cities in the later generation, it should be accountable and transferable.

Then, why does it not be discussed or analyzed the development for future generation at Imphal east zero point at Porompat, where it is the place of Imphal east district head quarter. One day it will become full and uncontrollable complexities of population and vehicles. Here, it needs co-ordination and discussion before the application and starting of new proposed ring road around the Imphal east and west.

Are the governments making the ring road as financed by the ADB or does the government has pre plan for the construction of this road? Make plan first, once a step have wrongly implicated, there will be a continuation of further wrong steps. Manipur is a small state, Imphal (both east and west) is also a small city let's make Imphal city a clear-vision city. Here to solve the main problems for the sustainable development a good governance erected by the spiritual public is required.