Dimapur | November 8 :New traffic regulations on the lines of the one already enforced in Kohima is on the cards in Dimapur as well. If the new system is strictly enforced, Dimapur will witness a slew of changes, with regard to vehicular movement in the main thoroughfares of the town, in about a week or so. The proposed regulations include the introduction of ‘single lane or line’ parking system at Circular Road (between Clock Tower and Dhobinullah junction), at GS Road (starting from Dhobinullah junction till the MP Road-Kalibari Road-GS Road intersection at Durga Mandir); and a bold proposal to totally convert the overhead footbridge junction-Dhobinullah junction (and a few metres beyond towards Midland) stretch of Circular Road, and MP Road into ‘No Parking Zones’.
The ever busy Nyamo Lotha Road (unofficially known as Church Road) is also likely to be affected. Here, the proposal is to specifically designate one lane of the road as parking space and, if possible, knocking off the road divider to create more space for vehicular traffic. A bane of traffic police, Tragopan point and Dhobinullah junction were also the focus of the meeting.
These proposals were discussed at a hurriedly called meeting on Wednesday, convened by the Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The meeting had in attendance MLA & Advisor Azheto Zhimomi, MLA Hewoto Awomi, Special Secretary (Home) L. Singsit, the top brass of the district police led by the Superintendent of Police, the DC, DMC led by the chief advisor, and members of the civil society led by the Dimapur Naga Council.
“It is not the job of a minister… it is the job of the DC and the SP, but I’m here as a concerned citizen,” outlined the Home Minister on the purpose of the meeting. “Why not we sacrifice a little bit of our liberty for a common good,” further remarked Imchen on the all too embarrassing tradition of citizens, including VVIPs, flouting traffic rules for personal convenience.
MLA Awomi said that the traffic police should be given full authority by the Home Ministry to implement traffic rules and punish defaulters, irrespective of ‘who is who’. He cited Shillong traffic police as an apt example, who allow no leniency when it comes to implementing traffic rules. He also pointed out the blatant practice of shop-keepers erecting sign boards and displaying goods way outside of the shops and the construction of parking space and drainage for individual use after encroaching into public roads. These must be strictly dealt with, he said.
The Home Minister, while, stated that buildings coming up in the main town should have mandatory provision for parking space.
Shillong Traffic police have the muscle of heavy mobile machinery fitted with cranks to tow away vehicles, even those belonging to high ranking government officials, the Army and legislators, which have flouted traffic regulations. Additional Superintendent of Police, Dimapur Wati Jamir suggested that Dimapur Traffic Police be provided with the same.
DMC chief advisor, K. Keditsu had some good news, though for the future, when the ongoing construction at New Market is complete. One floor of the structure when completed will have an area of 14, 000 square feet as parking space. It can park a hundred plus vehicles at one time, he said.
The ever busy Nyamo Lotha Road (unofficially known as Church Road) is also likely to be affected. Here, the proposal is to specifically designate one lane of the road as parking space and, if possible, knocking off the road divider to create more space for vehicular traffic. A bane of traffic police, Tragopan point and Dhobinullah junction were also the focus of the meeting.
These proposals were discussed at a hurriedly called meeting on Wednesday, convened by the Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen at the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The meeting had in attendance MLA & Advisor Azheto Zhimomi, MLA Hewoto Awomi, Special Secretary (Home) L. Singsit, the top brass of the district police led by the Superintendent of Police, the DC, DMC led by the chief advisor, and members of the civil society led by the Dimapur Naga Council.
“It is not the job of a minister… it is the job of the DC and the SP, but I’m here as a concerned citizen,” outlined the Home Minister on the purpose of the meeting. “Why not we sacrifice a little bit of our liberty for a common good,” further remarked Imchen on the all too embarrassing tradition of citizens, including VVIPs, flouting traffic rules for personal convenience.
MLA Awomi said that the traffic police should be given full authority by the Home Ministry to implement traffic rules and punish defaulters, irrespective of ‘who is who’. He cited Shillong traffic police as an apt example, who allow no leniency when it comes to implementing traffic rules. He also pointed out the blatant practice of shop-keepers erecting sign boards and displaying goods way outside of the shops and the construction of parking space and drainage for individual use after encroaching into public roads. These must be strictly dealt with, he said.
The Home Minister, while, stated that buildings coming up in the main town should have mandatory provision for parking space.
Shillong Traffic police have the muscle of heavy mobile machinery fitted with cranks to tow away vehicles, even those belonging to high ranking government officials, the Army and legislators, which have flouted traffic regulations. Additional Superintendent of Police, Dimapur Wati Jamir suggested that Dimapur Traffic Police be provided with the same.
DMC chief advisor, K. Keditsu had some good news, though for the future, when the ongoing construction at New Market is complete. One floor of the structure when completed will have an area of 14, 000 square feet as parking space. It can park a hundred plus vehicles at one time, he said.
Dimapur’s multi-flyover dream still a reverie
Proposal for cost-effective, alternative
routes to ease traffic congestion
An often discussed and shelved topic, the challenge of finding (or rather constructing) alternative routes to alleviate traffic congestion consumed a good portion of the nearly three-hour long meeting. To refresh public memory, back in February 2009, during the monthly District Planning Board Meeting, a bombastic proposal was announced on the possibility of constructing three flyovers in Dimapur, in addition to the existing one.
It was also announced that the three projects had been approved and sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Road & Surface Transport, and were likely to take shape soon. The envisaged routes for the three flyovers included – one from DC Court junction to Circuit House, the second over the Dhansiri river near New Dhansiri Bridge, and the third from Spirit of Faith Church (Half Nagarjan) to the IOC depot. It has been nearly three years since.
These three projects seem far fetched for the time being. Nevertheless, other cost-effective and applicable measures called ‘Feeder Road Projects’ have been proposed, since then, spearheaded by the Dimapur Naga Council, of which were discussed today.
One is the now, almost shelved, alternative approach road to Holy Cross Higher Secondary School from Nepali Basti, envisaged to ease the traffic congestion at Circular Road. This road, in theory was to traverse a portion of the HCHSS campus and exit at Nepali Basti. The school concerned welcoming the project had demolished some structures within the campus to make way for the road. A blueprint of the project was also designed and a project cost also sanctioned. The actual amount sanctioned is still a mystery with differing figures. According to one estimate, the amount stands at Rs. 13 lakh while according to another it is Rs. 15 lakh and yet another version stating it is Rs. 18 lakh. A joint inspection of the said project will be taken up soon; it was stated in the meeting.
The proposal to find an alternative approach road to St. Mary’s Montessori School at NL Road is also yet to take off. Another of the ‘feeder road projects’ discussed today was the proposal to construct a bridge over a stretch of the open drain that cuts through the heart of the town. The bridge, according to the proposal is to start somewhere behind the Assam Rifles Transit Camp, near the now defunct Friends Talkies and emerge at Circular Road, taking the route of the drain.
It also reached a roadblock, in the form of the Assam Rifles declining a request to part with a portion of their land. Savi Liegise disclosed that they have already written to the DGAR, in this regard, but there has been no response as yet. Otherwise, the Chief Minister during a special District Planning Board meeting in April 2010 had given the nod to the proposal and had directed the state department in concern to conduct survey. Despite, two financial years has passed, Liegise rued.
In a one of a kind disclosure, Liegise said that the chance of an alternative route from Army Supply Road to D Colony, Nagarjan, after over passing the railway tracks is fairly good. One of the landlords of D colony had kindly agreed to part with a portion of his land for the purpose, in public interest, Liegise said. Only, it is the turn of the government to take the initiative.
Other agenda discussed were, doing away with dangerously protruding triangular shaped traffic islands at important intersections; creation of Zebra Crossings at the National Highway under Dimapur, even if it is against the NH norms, for pedestrian convenience; and introduction of mini-buses for the outer periphery of the town.
Proposal for cost-effective, alternative
routes to ease traffic congestion
An often discussed and shelved topic, the challenge of finding (or rather constructing) alternative routes to alleviate traffic congestion consumed a good portion of the nearly three-hour long meeting. To refresh public memory, back in February 2009, during the monthly District Planning Board Meeting, a bombastic proposal was announced on the possibility of constructing three flyovers in Dimapur, in addition to the existing one.
It was also announced that the three projects had been approved and sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Road & Surface Transport, and were likely to take shape soon. The envisaged routes for the three flyovers included – one from DC Court junction to Circuit House, the second over the Dhansiri river near New Dhansiri Bridge, and the third from Spirit of Faith Church (Half Nagarjan) to the IOC depot. It has been nearly three years since.
These three projects seem far fetched for the time being. Nevertheless, other cost-effective and applicable measures called ‘Feeder Road Projects’ have been proposed, since then, spearheaded by the Dimapur Naga Council, of which were discussed today.
One is the now, almost shelved, alternative approach road to Holy Cross Higher Secondary School from Nepali Basti, envisaged to ease the traffic congestion at Circular Road. This road, in theory was to traverse a portion of the HCHSS campus and exit at Nepali Basti. The school concerned welcoming the project had demolished some structures within the campus to make way for the road. A blueprint of the project was also designed and a project cost also sanctioned. The actual amount sanctioned is still a mystery with differing figures. According to one estimate, the amount stands at Rs. 13 lakh while according to another it is Rs. 15 lakh and yet another version stating it is Rs. 18 lakh. A joint inspection of the said project will be taken up soon; it was stated in the meeting.
The proposal to find an alternative approach road to St. Mary’s Montessori School at NL Road is also yet to take off. Another of the ‘feeder road projects’ discussed today was the proposal to construct a bridge over a stretch of the open drain that cuts through the heart of the town. The bridge, according to the proposal is to start somewhere behind the Assam Rifles Transit Camp, near the now defunct Friends Talkies and emerge at Circular Road, taking the route of the drain.
It also reached a roadblock, in the form of the Assam Rifles declining a request to part with a portion of their land. Savi Liegise disclosed that they have already written to the DGAR, in this regard, but there has been no response as yet. Otherwise, the Chief Minister during a special District Planning Board meeting in April 2010 had given the nod to the proposal and had directed the state department in concern to conduct survey. Despite, two financial years has passed, Liegise rued.
In a one of a kind disclosure, Liegise said that the chance of an alternative route from Army Supply Road to D Colony, Nagarjan, after over passing the railway tracks is fairly good. One of the landlords of D colony had kindly agreed to part with a portion of his land for the purpose, in public interest, Liegise said. Only, it is the turn of the government to take the initiative.
Other agenda discussed were, doing away with dangerously protruding triangular shaped traffic islands at important intersections; creation of Zebra Crossings at the National Highway under Dimapur, even if it is against the NH norms, for pedestrian convenience; and introduction of mini-buses for the outer periphery of the town.
