Imtijung Aier
After the public’s repeated criticism of the state of traffic congestion and disorder in different cities in Nagaland, I decided to make a casual observation on the movements of vehicles and people in Dimapur. Armed with a pen and paper and a towel, I made my way across the blistering heat of the city and came up with the following notes:
Prologue: Friday, July 28
7:00 PM Passing through the post office, I see a huge crowd along the road. Three men are hauling a traffic control island in the middle of the road. Incidentally, this traffic control island is made of wood and tin, which explains the ease by which the three men carry it. Apparently, some vehicle crashed into the said traffic island.
7:01 PM Three policemen, one armed with a laathi, come running down the new flyover. They look like they could be in complete control of the situation. Or maybe not.
7:02 PM Going up the flyover, a motorist, who most probably rammed into the traffic island, has parked his bike to the side. He inspects his ankle, which is bleeding profusely. He has tied a handkerchief around his ankle to stop the bleeding. Some curious autorickshaw-wallas crowd around the bleeding biker and create a mini-traffic jam.
Monday, July 31
Khermahal Junction
9:51 AM A truck backs out right in the middle of the road. It blocks traffic on one side of the traffic island. Meanwhile, a tractor and a bulldozer speed past the other side of the traffic island.
9:52 A blue Maruti Van nearly rams into a cyclist crossing the road.
9:53 Another tractor goes past. Today must be International Tractor Appreciation Day.
9:56 The traffic-policeman steps down from the island to take a break. The heat must be getting to him too.
9:58 After the traffic-policeman disappears into the shade, cars seem to appear from all directions and suddenly there is no regard for traffic rules. Chaos ensues.
9:59 Two youngsters zoom past on a bike. They do not look older than fourteen years of age. I doubt they know what a driving license is.
10:00 The traffic-policeman and his colleague go into a hotel. Motorized chaos still ensues in the junction.
10:04 I count at least fifteen cyclists around the traffic island. They seem to have great skill in holding up traffic.
10:05 The traffic-policeman steps out from the hotel and proceeds to get some paan. He does not look like he is in any hurry to get back to work.
10:06 Naga Street Hawk races past the traffic island without regard of other vehicles around him.
10:07 A Tata Sumo narrowly avoids colliding into a rickshaw while making a U-turn around the traffic island. The passenger in the Sumo gives a threatening glance to the rickshaw-walla and the matter is settled. The utilization of threatening glances seems to be an important custom in Dimapur traffic.
10:08 The policeman spits out his paan. He is still in no hurry.
10:10 The traffic-policeman gradually makes his back to the traffic island after a fifteen minute break, which is normal, considering how some officers and politicians take fifteen day breaks.
Church Road & Plaza Point
10:50 Traffic jam near the Clock Tower Junction.
10:57 Traffic jam continues till the Plaza Junction (i.e. – the central point of Dimapur). There are long lines of vehicles from all directions and sides. Students and parents pour out from Holy Cross School.
10:58 A Jeep coming from the Dobhinala side of the junction blocks traffic while attempting to make a U-turn. The traffic-policeman looks frustrated.
11:00 Pedestrians are everywhere and they walk through traffic indiscriminately. Drivers seem even more indiscriminate, as they continue to speedily move their vehicles in spite of pedestrians crossing the roads. Only a few people make use of the pedestrian over-bridge. The over-bridge is put to better use as a viewing tower.
11:01 I notice a Tata Indica parked right at the corner of the entrance into the Plaza Line, which makes it extremely difficult of other vehicles to make a left turn. The driver then promptly moves his vehicle into a No Parking zone.
11:05 A blue Maruti 800 takes the place of the Tata Indica. The corner seems to be a popular parking spot for motorists. Once again, making a left turn is difficult.
11:07 In spite of the heavy traffic, only one traffic-policeman seems to be in duty. There are actually two other policeman present in the junction. However, one is walking around the sidewalk and the other is sitting on a motorcycle.
11:08 The policeman in the traffic island ignores the traffic and begins a conversation with a motorcyclist.
11:11 Right next to Plaza Bakery, a Maruti Gypsy backs out and almost hits a cyclist.
11:14 A boy sprints across the junction from the Police Assistance Booth to the other side of the road and manages to outrun all the vehicles zooming past him. By doing so, the boy displays extreme courage and an even more extreme lack of common sense.
11:15 The same act is repeated, only this time it is done by an ice-cream-walla pushing his cart. He manages to run across the street even faster, which makes me wonder if some people purposely try to cheat death on a daily basis.
11:19 Another traffic jam, this time from Breeze Restaurant towards the Plaza Point.
New Over-bridge Point
11:23 The traffic is seemingly better at this point but drivers are actually more rash because of less congested traffic.
11:24 One scooter and one autorickshaw enter the No Entry road towards Hong Kong Market. What else is new?
11:35 Despite the amount of autorickshaws in Dimapur, none of the drivers are willing to take me home. “Na jabo” is the answer I get from four rickshaws until I finally manage to get into one.
11:36 The autorickshaw driver drives like a madman. He attempts to pass a vehicle from the left side. Since when was that possible or legal?
11:45 In spite of everything I make it home safely. Just another day in Dimapur’s traffic life.
Conclusions, Suggestions, and Questions:
1. The traffic situation in Dimapur is as congested as its streets.
2. Most drivers seem to have learnt how to drive by watching Formula One.
3. Few people make use of their directional light-signals. Fewer people make use of their common sense while driving.
4. Drivers with road etiquette are as numerous as the hornbills in Nagaland.
5. Providing A/C booths in traffic islands will make traffic-policemen do their job. Still, with an irregular supply of electricity, most traffic-policemen will get tired and will revert back to the statistic of fifteen paan breaks per hour.
6. Pedestrians own the road. When a driver hits a pedestrian with his/her vehicle, it is always their fault, regardless of anything including intoxication on the pedestrian’s part.
7. Is it truly necessary for a driver to park their car as close to the road as physically possible?
8. Lastly, traffic schools anyone?
