With pre-Christmas season already in full swing there is an air of excitement all around with people moving about a great deal to attend programs, weddings etc. Besides, market places are beginning to swarm. However, with the onset of the festive season, the number of vehicles on the road appears to have more than doubled leading to constant traffic snarls right across Dimapur town. Many commuters in Dimapur will testify to the ever increasing traffic witnessed over the last one week. Further, in the next day or two, the VIP commuters with their countless vehicles led by the Chief Minister and other Ministers are also expected to come down to the commercial hub of Dimapur for various public functions and personal engagements. In such a scenario with the increasing movement of VIPs expected there is bound to be inconvenience caused to the general public. This is a fit case for the District and Police administration to urgently review traffic control across Dimapur so that no untoward incident takes place. It is also suggested that an in-depth survey is done of all available routes for vehicular movement and after careful study; restrictions such as one-way traffic and diversion etc. can be notified through the local media.
To address the issues of traffic congestion caused by the spiraling vehicular growth in places like Dimapur and Kohima and to tackle safety-related problems, the Superintendent of police of these two districts, along with the Urban Planning and Development Department should come out with a project proposal on traffic improvement. Such a project should look into the latest traffic management technology and techniques available. Those looking after urban planning should also ensure that large infrastructure projects, whether roads or housing, are well planned and implemented for improving the transportation system in places like Dimapur and Kohima. For the immediate though, a strategy needs to be immediately adopted to ease traffic woes during the rush festive season.
Besides easing congestion on the road, necessary steps must also be taken to help prevent road accidents, a daily feature especially while leading up to Christmas and New Year. This is also an opportune moment for the Dimapur Superintendent of Police Bidhu Shekhar reminding him of his earlier notification on the speed limits for Dimapur roads. It may be recalled that the Dimapur SP had earlier in the year notified on speed limits in respect of various categories of vehicles plying in and around Dimapur Town area. Sadly, this notification has remained on paper only for whatever reasons although the Deputy Superintendent of Police (traffic) had been entrusted with the task of enforcement of the notification.
Whether or not the speed limits as notified will ever be enforced, there is also an underlining need that the practice of responsible and safe driving has to begin at the top. And for this the Chief Minister and his Ministerial colleagues should themselves lead the way by promoting self discipline at the wheels by adhering to rules and regulations and thereby promoting road discipline that will ensure not only their own safety but those of the public who are most of the time exposed to the dangers inherent with rash driving when VIP convoys pass through.
