Mizoram tour : An example in traffic discipline
Source: The Sangai Express / Laishram Shamungou

Imphal, November 25 2010: Though the roads in Mizoram are narrow and steep, like in the hill areas of Manipur, there is discipline among the drivers of various vehicles plying on the road, thereby minimising the possibility of causing any sort of inconveniences to the people during traffic jam which is unavoidable.

One of the main problems that the Government and the people alike face in Aizawl every day is traffic jam on the narrow and steep roads criss-crossing the length and breadth of the State capital, but the drivers maintain strict discipline and could hardly see anyone honking their vehicles.

This striking feature was noticed by a group of journalists who recently conducted a tour of Mizoram.

Organised by All Manipur Working Journalists Union, the tour was sponsored by the Department of Planning, Government of Manipur.

Steep and narrow but discipline is what makes it work

In the capital city Aizawl, traffic jam is an unavoidable daily occurrence on all the roads.

But the observance of strict traffic rules by the drivers hardly cause any sort of inconveniences to the people.

Ever vigilant traffic police are also there to control the traffic flow and pull up any traffic violators.

Another interesting fact is that haphazard parking of vehicles along the busy road sides which the people of Manipur have come to live with every day of their lives is something totally alien in Mizoram where every Government offices and hotels have their own parking space.

The condition of the roads in Manipur are also better than that of Manipur.

The National Highway 58 is the road that connects Mizoram with the rest of India through surface transport and it is currently being developed on war footing with funding from World Bank.

While leaving the touring journalists have taken the Guite Road of Churachandpur to enter Mizoram while on their return journey they came along Imphal-Jiri Road (NH-53) .

The distance from Imphal to Tuivai, which is last village of Churachandpur district bordering with Mizoram is around 212 kms.

The touring journalists who have gone in two Tata Sumos could not cover this distance in one day.

Even though the condition of the road from Churachandpur to Singhat is comparatively better, it is deplorable from Singhat to Tuivai via Sinzawl.

There are road stretch where the potholes are waist deep at some places.

The media team did not come across any sign of work commencing to improve the condition of the road stretch, although the task has been reportedly entrusted to BRO.

The deplorable condition of the road is such that the touring journalists could not reach Singjol before sunset and they spent the night at a bus waiting shed in Khwangin village, which is located on the way to Sinzawl.

Similarly, there has been no improvement in the condition of Imphal-Jiri Road.

Although BRO has started construction work, deployment of a large number of work force is conspicuously absent.

Driving along the road whose condition is deplorable for greater part of the journey, one of the Tata Sumos carrying the touring journalists broke down along the way and the journalists have to sought shelter at the transit camp of the Territorial Army located near Nungba for one night.

It may be noted here that the Govt of India has already sanctioned Rs 300 crores for development of the Imphal-Jiri road stretch of the NH53 .