IT Desk
Imphal, Oct 19,
On October 16, to the surprise of the shop keepers located at the connected road stressed between Paona Bazar and Governor road just a few yards opposite to Usha Cinema Hall, which has been closed for years due to security reason, a person dress in black started collecting parking fee. The shop keepers when enquired on why he collected parking fee, the person simply answer that he was working under an NGO which have person from the Imphal Municipal Corporation for collection of parking fee.
“This is the first time that the IMC granted permission to an NGO for collection of parking fee from the connecting road which was closed long time back”, a shop runner told this reporter.
Traffic problem has been a big issue of Imphal town since the last couple of decades. Showing serious concern to the inconveniences of the people, Chief Minister of Manipur N. Biren Singh convened the first ever meeting of the Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee meeting on April 25.
However, the outcome of the meeting fails to do any change to the traffic management. From Keishampat junction till Thangal Bazar any free roadside seems to be converted into parking space.
Even as the TRPC is the sole authority to allot parking area, no specific parking area has been allotted at any specific place. Yet, there was a resolution to charge more fee if a vehicle is parked more than its necessities.
Following that the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) is franchising NGOs to collect parking fee from anywhere where they felt necessary. Still now the IMC authority continues to offer permission to any NGO for collecting parking fee.
For reason best known, NGO collecting parking fee never bother on where the vehicles were park at the roadsides particularly at Paona bazaar. Double parking, triple parking are allowed if they are paid parking fee. No, authority of the IMC or the traffic police counter check the way the NGOs arranged the parking system.
The connecting road in between Paona Bazar and Governor road has never been officially declared as parking space yet vehicles use to park as the road has been close at the other end of the governor road for security reason. How could the IMC allow NGO to collect fee for parking at this site when it was not declared as a parking site by the TRPC.
Imphal city is already facing problem due to road side vendor which the police received severe criticism from section of people when they tried to clean it. Now, the parking arrangement at Paona bazaar and Thangal bazaar should be properly checked and those fail to comply with government order should not be allowed to continue their service, a former police officer told this reporter.
He further added that the IMC or the traffic police should immediately announced the parking site and that penalty should be given if the number vehicle cross limit provided to them.
