A headache called Dimapur and its lawless roads of ruin

Staff Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 11 (EMN): Bad roads, traffic issues, lack of pedestrian facilities, dilapidated urban infrastructure etc., are just a few of the most common yet disturbing problems citizens in Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, continue to face,.
See and not heeded to is the ‘No Parking’, ‘Do not spit here’, ‘No U turn’ signs—nothing more than mere signs with just a group of words nobody even reads or follow.
The heart of Dimapur town seems to have traffic problems also every single day. It has become a major issue that seems to have no solution.
There are myriad angles to blaming who is responsible for the poor shape of a town considered the ‘most’ advanced in Nagaland. The dilemma is who to blame: the government for the bad roads, and the traffic administration for not guiding commuters; blame commuters for not following traffic rules, or blame the growing number of vehicles growing in the district. The blame game goes on and on with nobody willing to accept who is at fault.
For instance, the Dhobinala road, which links many destinations in the urban centre, is always in traffic congestion—vehicles are always seen moving at slow pace. Cable wire rolls that seem to have found a home outside the SBI ATM booth, for instance, is creating yet another silly but disturbing obstacle adding to the confusion from rushing vehicles and teeming pedestrians in the main town.
Likewise, a “no parking” sign standing alongside a road, pictured, is seen being least bothered by many who park their vehicles in spite of knowing what it means. The board does not imply the big core of a wire roll occupying the space but the time the object has served its purpose instead of lying there waiting for whoever is in charge to roll it away.
Similarly, the busy City Tower, at Circular Road, is considered one of the busiest routes. It has many silly yet serious traffic issues going on there too. The parking lot provided by the traffic police with proper lines seems to have become useless. With some exceptions most of the parked vehicles are seen parked out-of- line, leaving no space even for a one-lane passage for vehicles to move freely.
While the narrow single-lane road meant for a single vehicle turns into a multiple-lane-passage with every vehicle trying to overtake the others. This caused more traffic jams. Heavier vehicles can also be seen on no parking zones while their drivers are seen seated nonchalantly, paying no heed to the traffic they are causing.
Pity, then, for the traffic policemen and police women who control the unruly motorists and commuters who are always on a rush.
Similarly, there are the auto rickshaw drivers: With the unruly auto drivers growing more in number, traffic jams in the town area from 12pm-2pm and 4 pm onwards is always a mess. This is not uncommon: Four autos can be seen racing together in a four-lane line on a single-lane road. This is actually meant for only one vehicle per lane.
Time and again, the Traffic police department has been organising activities such as distributing chocolates to those who obey traffic rules and pamphlets about safe driving etc., to motivate commuters in the area.
In order to streamline the traffic flow from all corners of the district and with most of the bridges in the dying stage, the ACP (Traffic I) Sezo Peseyie said that the department will be bringing up ‘new traffic rules’ soon to regulate the unruly traffic. The traffic police are always seen monitoring the heaving traffic under the scorching sun with no time for breaks.
An individual who requested anonymity said that the Kohima traffic jams were also heavy but unlike the Dimapur traffic, people there in the capital ‘follow the traffic rules.’
Education campaigns about traffic regulations, road etiquette and Civic Sense are indeed needed for all. The roads have no option about the prospect of being widened but Civic Sense can be widened to ease the problems.