Crumbling Roads? Never Mind, the Footpaths are Free!

The recent eviction of roadside encroachments along Tiddim Road—from Keishampat to the Airport and from Moirangkhom to Singjamei—has stirred both applause and criticism. While the move has been widely welcomed for its intention to reclaim public space and streamline traffic, the method and timing of execution raise serious questions about the government’s development priorities and planning consistency.
At first glance, the effort to clear illegally occupied portions of the national highway appears commendable. Encroachments—especially unauthorized structures, extended platforms, and makeshift parking slots—have long contributed to congestion and disorder on some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. The clean-up was overdue and necessary. The freed-up spaces promise better visibility, safer pedestrian movement, and scope for possible road widening or beautification.
However, a deeper look reveals a troubling lack of foresight and selective focus in the administration’s actions. The destruction of newly constructed concrete slides—reportedly made for vehicle parking on the road’s edge—has particularly drawn public ire. Many of these structures were built because the roadside drainage is actually higher than the level of the road, making it impossible for vehicles to park or even mount the pavement without damaging their undercarriages. In some places, the gradient is so steep that even pedestrians struggle to climb. Rather than modifying or redesigning these poorly planned drains or integrating parking solutions into future road planning, authorities seem content to demolish what was at least a practical, if not ideal, workaround created by residents and shop owners.
More critically, the timing of this eviction drive has exposed a stark contradiction in the government’s developmental approach. Imphal’s roads, including the stretch of Tiddim Road recently cleared, are pockmarked with potholes, uneven surfaces, and poor drainage—issues that directly impact public safety and quality of life. The condition worsens every monsoon, turning daily commutes into hazardous journeys. The same administration that has mobilized resources and manpower to conduct a high-profile eviction seems completely indifferent to these glaring infrastructural deficiencies.
Why clear footpaths if the roads themselves are crumbling? Why demolish roadside platforms without first ensuring that the road is drivable and free from water-logging and surface hazards? For the average commuter and taxpayer, the sequence of priorities makes little sense.
Critics argue—and rightly so—that such selective initiatives often serve optics more than real improvement. Eviction drives are visible, dramatic, and easily marketable as decisive governance. Filling potholes, laying even tarmac, and redesigning drains require more technical input, sustained funding, and longer-term commitment—factors that don’t always align with short-term political incentives. The irony is hard to miss: a government quick to act against encroachers seems unusually slow in addressing the basic repair needs of its primary transport arteries.
Moreover, if the goal is truly to enhance road safety and urban functionality, then a holistic approach is essential. Eviction must be coupled with structural improvement. The focus must shift from cosmetic clearances to genuine infrastructure development. The public deserves not just clear footpaths but also drivable roads, planned drainage, proper lighting, and integrated traffic management.
In the long run, reclaiming space is only the beginning. What matters is how that space is redesigned, redeveloped, and reintegrated into a larger urban plan. The present state of affairs, where potholes and broken stretches continue to threaten commuters while officials boast about cleared sidewalks, reflects a governance model trapped in short-sighted symbolism.
If the government is serious about urban transformation, it must prove it not just with bulldozers, but with concrete, tar, and planning. Filling potholes, fixing drainage, improving pedestrian pathways, and integrating smart parking solutions must come hand-in-hand with anti-encroachment drives.
Eviction without development is merely displacement. Imphal deserves better.