The stretch of road from Dungrei Junction to Kharasom Junction, a distance of about 7km of Ukhrul Headquarters, is very narrow with limited spaces for parking.
Road safety is a major concern especially during the festive season. With the onset of the Christmas holiday, one can witness thousands of people from all corners thronging Ukhrul Town. Roadside eateries and mushrooming of street vendors (mostly, second hand clothes) have only added woes to the already existing problems along the narrow road of Ukhrul Town.
As per the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, the traffic control and management has been vested with the Small Town Committee under ADC-Ukhrul.
With the increase in the number of vehicles, the regulation of the traffic system in Ukhrul Town began in 2021, through the initiative of the Small Town Committee under ADC-Ukhrul. In order to maintain the safety of the people, especially the commuters in the heart of Ukhrul Town and to improve the road safety within the town, the vehicle parking management policy was formulated. The policy was authorised and assigned to the NGOs and Police department by ADC Ukhrul on a temporary basis.
Accordingly, in 2022, the ADC-Ukhrul had authorised and assigned “KACHIR TRUST” to manage the traffic congestion by arranging parking slots/zones at 8 location of Ukhrul Town with a minimum parking fees. However, the assignment could not be implemented successfully due to various factors, and the KACHIR TRUST withdrew in a short time.
In 2023, the assignment was entrusted to the Police Department on a temporary basis. However, the arrangement did not yield much result.
The policy of vehicle parking management could not be sustained in Ukhrul Headquarters. The implementing authority or agency faces many issues. Moreover, the Small Town Committee faces acute financial problems to employ full time employees. The attempt to outsource the management to NGOs also crumbled miserably.
Vehicle parking management requires regulatory rules and efficient space. In a narrow road in places like Ukhrul Town, one needs strict action to successfully execute the vehicle parking management.
Different policies and plans have been formulated to ease the traffic flow but all these have failed. One cannot solely blame the authority. The public is equally responsible for the failure.
Implementation of one-way street parking or designated one side of a narrow road for parking to allow for two-way traffic had failed. Vehicles could be seen parking haphazardly on both sides of the road, sometimes even blocking the pavement.
There was prohibition of parking on main roads during peak hours to keep traffic flowing smoothly but this also failed. Traffic personnel could be seen blowing the horns so that the drivers/owners of the vehicles could make way and ease the traffic. Traffic police announcing through loudspeakers to follow traffic rules is an everyday affair. But, few heeds the announcement.
Enforcement of short-term parking limits (e.g., 1 or 2 hours) on busy streets to ensure a quick turnover of spaces for shoppers and short-term visitors has also failed. One can see vehicles being parked all day or for a week or more.
As per orders dated 28 April 2022 issued by the office of ADC-Ukhrul, for ensuring road safety, traffic rule violators were imposed a fine:
a) Parking at no parking zone = Rs.40
b) No side glass of all types of vehicles = Rs. 300
c) Heavy commercial vehicles entry during 8am to 4pm in Town = Rs. 500.
But, how effective can it be implemented in Ukhrul Town?
Most importantly, the indifferent public response and attitude towards traffic rules have made parking management in Ukhrul Town very difficult. Awareness on the part of the public will surely enhance and ease the traffic regulations in the town.
