Songpi: In view of the increasing traffic congestion in Churachandpur town, the District Traffic Police has decided to install PVC traffic spring poles as road dividers at seven major jam-prone locations.
The installation will be carried out late on Wednesday night when there is less vehicular movement on the roads, to avoid causing inconvenience to the public.
Addressing media persons on Tuesday, Superintendent of Police Gaurav Dogra said that enforcing lane driving is crucial to solve the congestion problem. He said the PVC poles will act as temporary dividers and help in channelizing traffic properly.
SP Dogra further informed that along with the installation of divider cones, the police will soon notify designated no-parking zones across the town. He added that more traffic regulation measures will be introduced in the coming days to streamline traffic management in the district headquarters.
According to Traffic Control Police In-charge Marlys, the seven locations identified for the first phase installation include – Forest Gate, Tuibong to Kamdouveng Crossing, Kamdouveng Crossing to Ideal Nursing Home Crossing, Bijang Crossing, Old Bazaar to Rengkai Road Crossing, St. Paul School Road Crossing, Damkam Bazaar area, and Hebron/Dorcas Road Crossing.
These stretches witness heavy traffic during morning and evening peak hours and have been identified as major bottlenecks by the traffic police.
Speaking about the causes of traffic congestion, Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Augustine Khongsai said that Churachandpur has seen a massive increase in traffic pressure since the ethnic conflict broke out in May 2023. After the conflict, a large number of internally displaced people from Imphal, Kangpokpi and other valley districts moved and settled in Churachandpur, which led to a sharp rise in population and number of vehicles in the town.
He pointed out that besides the population influx, other factors such as widespread non-compliance with traffic rules, absence of ring roads and proper bypass roads to divert traffic, lack of traffic sense and social consciousness among road users, and inadequate town planning have contributed to the daily traffic jams.
Traffic In-charge Marlys appealed to the public to cooperate with the new initiative and not damage the traffic cones. He said, “Since we have faced so many problems regarding traffic congestion, we are planning to put up cones as road dividers, if possible, starting tonight. It is my appeal to the public to take care of the cones.”
The police also expressed serious concern over the rising cases of underage driving in the town.
Marlys appealed to all parents and guardians to keep a close watch on their children and ensure that minors are not allowed to drive two-wheelers or four-wheelers.
He also requested all schools, colleges and private institutions in the district not to allow underage students to bring or ride vehicles to their campuses.
Warning of strict action, Marlys said the Traffic Police will soon conduct special checking drives across Churachandpur town. “If any underage child is found driving a vehicle, their parents will be called to the Traffic Office. The parents will be held liable, and we will take action according to the law,” he said.
The police said they are hopeful that with public cooperation, the new measures will help ease traffic congestion and ensure smoother traffic movement in Churachandpur.
