Lanuzulu Aier
Dimapur
Of late, several opinions has been shared in the media appreciating for implementation of Even/Odd numbers of vehicles running in Dimapur jurisdiction to ease the traffic congestion which was later on followed by the Kohima traffic that relieved the vehicle owners from heavy traffic congestion, parking problem and time consumption. And I too convey my gratitude to the concerned authorities for taken up such a measure which reduced the traffic congestion to a large extend by implementing the even/odd number system in the daily movement of vehicles.
While appreciating the authorities for taking such a positive move in the interest of the general public, I would like to express my personal views based on my experience and observations while following the system both in Dimapur as well as in Kohima. Of course, the traffic congestions has been reduced to a large extend by the even/odd number system but still witnessing the continuous traffic jam especially during the busy hours which is attributed by the ever increasing number of vehicles day by day.
Comparatively, Dimapur is a vast and plain area and there are enough parking spaces in every residential compound at least to park the cars of the respective owners, but unlike Dimapur, the biggest challenges face by the Kohimaians is that, Kohima, being the hilly areas with limited spaces, parking of vehicles in their respective residence is also a big problem. As such, almost 80% of the vehicles are permanently parks on the road side which causes more traffic congestion in Kohima. The only possible way to solve the problem of traffic jam in Kohima is to work out the possibility of diversion of national high way from the main town and shifting of all the VVIPs official quarters to the New Capital Town (Secretariat areas). Further, It has been observed that large numbers of vehicles with EVEN numbers are seen plying on ODD number Day daily and vice versa citing with various reasons that cause more traffic jam on the road. In other words, complete Even/Odd Number System is not successfully enforced in practical both in Kohima and Dimapur.
As we are all aware of the fact that Dimapur is the fastest developing city in the State being the commercial centre. We have been witnessing the continuous increase of human population as well as the number of vehicles enormously with rapid expansion of commercial activities due to better communication, transportation and health care facilities made available besides expansion scope in terms of areas and space. The above mentioned factors will compel to augment traffic jam chronic problem perpetually unless the citizen of Nagaland would seriously ponder over it which has adverse consequential effect in all round activities of life.
In view of the above, it’s my humble suggestion that the government should work out some modalities and take up some mega projects for construction of flyover in Dimapur Town especially at several places like Golagat road junction police point near Dragopan Hotel, Nagarjan Police point junction, Batacharali police point junction and Dobinalla police point junction besides early completion of under construction of bridge near purana bazaar crossing Dhansari river towards supermarket and another bridge construction works near Power House towards Kuda village so that there will be no problem for crossing the main town. Towards mobilization of funds for such a mega projects, I am sure the Central Government will never deny the proposal since the said facilities are the urgently and genuinely need of the citizen.
Moreover, so far as the contribution of State share towards this specific project is concerned, the citizen of the State will never say NO to collect revenue by levying a token amount on all the running vehicles on the basis of daily movement. In other words, the general public is always willing to pay taxes if the purpose is for actual development and to serve the interest of the people. Therefore, as a bonafide concerned citizen of the State, I earnestly appeal to the State authorities as well as the general public to come out with a strong will power and firm determination towards achieving this Herculean task collectively otherwise Naga people will never catch up with the ever rapidly growing outside world for which posterity will definitely blame the present generation. Kuknalim!
