Public awareness has been created, a change will be seen. Two days back a discussion was held to make Imphal a safe place for living. The nature of discussion was really interesting. Everyone present aired their views. Focus of attention was mostly on infringement on the right of pedestrians, who constitute majority of population. Footpaths are not properly maintained. Even the few stretches of footpaths constructed in the heart of town have been used by roadside hotels or shops for parking vehicles or for showing the shop materials. Pedestrians are angry they say the roads and lanes are not for two wheelers and four wheelers only. How can space be made available for cyclists and pedestrians? The discussion continued. When the public transport system is improved after introducing latest model buses, which can be used by middle class family a change may be seen. But the low floor transport system failed someone pointed out. Will privatisation help then? The numbers of four wheelers, two wheelers and three wheelers are on the rise. If the problem is uncontrollable now, imagine what will happen after five years. That will be a hell like situation. Addition of parking spaces at the public place will not be the solution. Someone from planning group said, plans are afoot to fix the rate of parking fee according to the time taken by a vehicle. This is a wonderful idea. This will go a long way in easing traffic congestion. As per the reports available the owners of shops and those working in the shops are playing nuisance on the road parking their vehicles on the roadside from dawn to dusk leaving no space for the consumers to park their vehicle. According to the new rule the parking fee will reach three figures. When that rule is applied no owner will unnecessarily occupy the vacant portion available in front of the shop. That rule should be applied without delay. Then there are employees of banks and public undertakings who also park their vehicles in front of their office during office hours causing hindrances to the users of the road. They too will not like to part away one quarter of the pay in giving away parking fee. If the parking fee is increased they too will think of coming to offices using private vehicles. They will start using public transport vehicles. Therefore it will not be wrong to say that the traffic congestion on the important roads in bazaar areas can be eased by increasing parking fee. Do it without delay.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/better-days-are-ahead-4/
