On step taken to ease traffic Congestion in Imphal, but will it be the solution

Change of school timing and office timing for all government and private schools as well as the office timing indeed is a good initiative to ease chronic traffic problem in the state. Perhaps this is not the complete solution but it will certainly relief some of the problem as vehicular movement at the same timing will not happen. The school timing as per the government measures had started from 8 am to 2.30 pm. As for the office hour it has been ordered to begin from 9 am. That means collision among the school vehicles and that of the office vehicles which we the people of Imphal had witness jamming the traffic in the city will be somehow solve. However, people are skeptical on whether this will be a solution or not as there are other factors that jam the traffic commotion in Imphal.
Traffic congestion in Imphal city has become a chronic problem. It is common understanding that traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times and increased vehicular queuing. When traffic demand is great enough, the physical use of roads by vehicles slows the speed of the traffic stream, this result in some congestion. As demand approaches the capacity of a road or of the intersection along the road, extreme traffic congestion sets in. When vehicles are fully stopped for period of time, this is colloquially known as traffic jam or traffic snarl-up. The generally considered causes of traffic congestion are-the breadth of the road is too narrow to accommodate the demand of vehicles; shortage of off road parking which means people park on the roads and so increase in congestion; people not using public transport-either it is less convenient, too expensive or not available; and more people own and use their personal vehicles (two or four wheelers).
One of the major factors among others of creating traffic congestion in Imphal city is driving behaviors of the vehicles, attitude of the drivers and owners of the vehicles. Most of the drivers/owners of the vehicles in Imphal city want to drive as they wish at the speed they enjoy. Even if traffic control police sign to wait, most of the drivers drive in their vehicles without respecting the traffic control police at all the junctions in Imphal city. People must experience it that most of those who drive costly big cars behaves in such way. Maximum diesel auto rickshaw drivers are also not different from such behavior. The difference is that they think of money from passengers. If the drivers with this mindset cannot push away the vehicles in front of them who are waiting traffic sign for their turn to move, they will take wrong side and drive in violating traffic rules. Traffic control police also cannot enforce traffic rules because sometimes most of the vehicles belong to many influential persons in many ways. Another creator of traffic congestion is the vehicles of ‘’VIP’’ of all kinds and security forces. Military vehicles hardly obey traffic police. Another major creator of traffic congestion and problem is the teenage riders of costly motorbikes. They drive the vehicles in crowded roads with maximum speed as if there is no speed limit to follow. Almost all the riders of such costly motorbikes are school goers and they are generally below the age of 18 years. How are they issued driving license? Unfortunately, something is seriously wrong with the system. The attitude and behaviors of the persons needs to be seriously considered as part of driving skills. But these are the reflections of changing negative social values of our society. If this driving behavior is not checked in time, it will further adds up not only to the traffic congestion and its related problems in Imphal city but also negative impact on the society at large.
On the other hand, the role of Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee (TRPC) is extremely important. This government body comprising of the Transport department, Traafic Police, State Police, PHED, PWD, IMC is the one that is reviewing the condition of the traffic condition in the state particularly in Imphal city. So far the TRPC have not allotted any traffic space in Imphal city. Some vested interested people working in the IMC have been reportedly engaging some people to collect parking fee from places where there is no allocation of parking space. There is still need for introduction of public transport and to create awareness to the people about the need for travelling in public transport instead of using private own luxurious cars.
If the government is serious about the traffic problem, the Traffic police department should be provided all possible machineries, like vehicle to lift Vehicles Park at wrong place, and other machineries like clamp and speed checkers. Moreover, the traffic police should also be given power to arrest and fine violators. As of now the traffic police though have its own police station there is no lockup to detain the violators. They are not able to file FIR to violators, but have to coordinate with civil police station. The Traffic Police department now have an SP and the departed should be converted into a full fledged police station so that they can take up cases related to violation of traffic regulation.