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| People park vehicles along the Imphal city sector of the Imphal-Dimapur highway. Telegraph picture |
Imphal, May 14: An apex body of transporters’ organisations in Manipur slammed the Okram Ibobi Singh government’s new traffic regulation in Imphal city that bans the entry of all kinds of vehicles between 10am and 4pm.
Transporters’ and Drivers’ Council, an apex body of transporters’ organisations of Manipur, today cautioned the government that it would not remain silent if the system continued, to “harass” people.
“The new traffic regulation that prevented vehicles inside the city coupled with giving parking slots on the peripheral roads, including a national highway, have created traffic jams in the peripheral roads,” said H. Ranjit Singh, president of the transporters’ council. The government introduced the new traffic regulations from February 13 this year to reduce congestion in the shopping areas of Imphal city.
The government has provided 17 parking spaces for all kinds of vehicles on the roads outside the city’s shopping complexes, including the Imphal-Dimapur highway, blocking the free flow of traffic.
Earlier, traders and the business community of the city protested the banning of vehicles inside the city claiming their sale had fallen by 50 per cent ever since the new system was introduced. “The law does not let portions of a national highway to be turned into a parking space. This is illegal,” the transporters’ leader said. All the vehicles belonging to government officials were made to park by the Imphal-Dimapur highway.
No vehicle, including those of the officials, was allowed inside the office complex after a bomb exploded there last December. “We were closely observing the new traffic system and we find that it is only harassing the public, causing more traffic congestion and blocking traffic. So, we demand that vehicles should be allowed to pass through the city thoroughfares as before,” Ranjit Singh said.
When the system was introduced, the government had announced that it would be on trial for a month and changes would be made if the system was not effective. But there is no sign of any change in the regulation.
The transporters’ council today submitted a memorandum to home minister Gaikhangam urging him to allow vehicles inside the shopping areas as before. “We will wait for a positive response. If nothing comes we may be compelled to look for other means to end this traffic madness,” Ranjit Singh warned.
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