The conceptualization of odd and even vehicle numbers that eventually reined in by Mr. Kejriwal for highly polluted city of Delhi to mitigate automobile spewing out thousand tons of carbon-monoxide, carbondioxide, smog particulates etc. daily into the already fragile atmosphere. Accordingly the idea was enforced despite of hue and cries from the vehicles’ owner and intellectuals; the result seems to be partly a success until people started exploring the loopholes in owning multiple cars that ultimately increased the vehicle population. This problem could be contained had the motor regulation been systematized and tighten in the first place.
Whereas, here in Nagaland it may not be necessarily in line with Delhi in containing pollution but as we’ve experienced in our two cosmopolitan cities of Kohima and Dimapur, the vehicle population had already reached it saturation point against the limited space of road, that driving simply becomes a hell in the doldrums’ of stationary sea of various types of vehicles where no one seemed going anywhere during the peak hour. Whereas, our expectation of wide and good roads in these cities is simply another pipedream as there’s very limited space for widening due to unplanned design and a double jeopardy by uncompromising attitude of the land owners.
Remember! A problem left to itself will multiply by itself that will become unmanageable in the long run. Of course this idea may not be prudent enough for a lasting solution but surely it can ease traffic snarl as to facilitate progressive work in widening or construction ply-over/deckers wherever necessary during this period. Yes! This is possible with input technology and political commitment in line with the proposed smart city.
The followings are some of my personal view and opinion to ease traffic congestion and mitigate pollution in the two cities of Kohima and Dimapur.
1. Make an interim provision that allows a vehicle number ending with odd number to ply on odd calendar date and vice versa for even numbers, violation of which a certain fine be imposed on the defaulter to the extent of cancelling his/her registration on the third consecutive offence.
2. Registration and allotment of vehicle number shouldn’t be at the whim and choice of vehicle owner as to deter owning multiple cars.
3. Office goers should pool themselves and arranged even and odd at their convenient.
4. However, the following vehicles should be exempted from the interim provision as; Department staff buses, NST. Ambulances, Magistrate, Media, Police and Paramilitary movement, Wedding procession, Funeral cavalcade, Transporting sick patient, judges, Doctors with medical insignia on their vehicles.
5. Whereas, Ministers, parliament secretaries and state bureaucrats should fall within the ambit of the interim framework to show their cooperation and exemplary conduct of discipline as a stakeholder.
6. City buses should be inclusive under this scheme and at the interest of the public those buses without roadworthy certificate be phased out and in phase wise all the city buses should be replaced with smaller type of vehicle like Winger having not more than twenty seats with reasonable rate. This is because the main hurdle and traffic congestion is very often caused by heavy rush of city buses.
7. As a matter of fact, many private cars are in the habit of plying as taxi had not augured well with the motor regulation and invariably they should be stopped from plying illegally.
8. Phenomenally as of today, parking vehicle on both side making two-lane into single-lane, that too most park their cars so askew that ordinary driver like me finding it very difficult to negotiate at various places but remember also that there’s not a single perfect driver in this world.
9. Very frequently, we encountered many construction works on both side of the roads, dumping their construction materials randomly is another big hazard to road safety and it should be stopped forthwith. During this period the govt. authorities must explore the pro and cons to bring wholesome public transport system in the state capital city Kohima and commercial-hub city of the state Dimapur.
N. Haisoyi ndang Author & Founder Naga script Lower Bayavu Kohima
