Demonstrating there is a Govt in place Noting focus on roads
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At least Imphal is trying to demonstrate that there is a Government in place and this is something that should be noted. Left unattended for years, after violence erupted on May 3, 2023, the Government seems to have put its focus in place. Chief Minister Y Khemchand has already instructed the Public Works Department to put on its best foot forward and repair the roads within JNIMS. One hopes the road repairing work within JNIMS will also cover the stretch that leads to the parking area, a stretch that is nothing more than a dirt track, a situation in which it was in some time back. Now with the dry season, one can imagine how the said road stretch must be like and situated just by the side of the said road stretch are some hotels, which cater to the need of the people who come to the hospital for any health related issues. On the other hand, some patch works along the road leading to the said hospital have been taken up, but is this enough ? Or will it be a case of the people having to wait for some more time for the repair work to proceed in full swing in the coming days. On February 21 and datelined Imphal February 20, The Sangai Express had carried a report, complete with pictures of the shabby state of the Porompat DC Road and while this said road stretch does not go upto JNIMS, it is still the route many take before taking a turn towards the hospital. It would have sounded all that better if only the Chief Minister had also touched on the shabby state of this key road stretch. Now with the personal instruction given to the PWD to repair the roads in JNIMS, work is expected to start soon and if one looks at it, this is not an isolated case. Already repair work has been taken up on a war footing on Mayai Lambi, a route against which pitiable state the local people had launched numerous protests including blocking the road in the not so distant past. Road repair work has also been taken up at different localities in Imphal and it was pleasant to see that the Wahengbam Leikai road, the stretch just behind Nambul Turel has been repaired. The Sangai Express had been at the forefront in highlighting the abysmal state of the roads in Imphal long before Manipur came under President’s Rule. The need to tell the story of the pitiable state of the roads was acutely felt and it was precisely this factor which prompted The Sangai Express to carry more than four/five stories on the state of the roads stretching over a year. It was along this line that the story on the pot holes dotted road just behind Hotel Imphal, starting from Khongnang Ani Karak was highlighted more than once. Thankfully the said road stretch has been repaired, but still a lot more needs to be done. The Sangai Express has also covered the state of the ISBT more than three/four times in the last couple of years and it will continue to be on the alert in so far as the assets of the public are concerned. A report on the state of the road inside the ISBT and the other infrastructure will come after the Yaoshang break.
It is hard to believe or to come to terms with the fact that for years, Imphal continued to survive the potholed roads which kick up dusts during the dry season, as it is right now, and becomes slushy when it rains, and the primacy placed by the Government on repairing the roads is acknowledged. The focus of the Government should also be on the rigid pavements and take up steps to ensure that work for laying the roads does not continue to inconvenience the people endlessly. An example is the concrete road that is being put up at Thangmeiband on the road stretch that leads to the State Assembly from Khoya-thong. One wonders how long it will take to finalise the work, for the sky is likely to open up anytime now. At the moment the concrete road has been laid on one side of the road, and work on the other side is yet to start. Can work be taken up and finalised before the onset of the rainy season ? At the moment the Government focusing on the roads and lanes at the leikais is on the right move, and one hopes the tempo is kept up. It is also time for the Government to give a renewed thrust to the work that is being taken up on the road stretch that leads to Shija Hospital. An important route this is, and the Government cannot afford to forget that everyday hundreds go to this hospital.
It is hard to believe or to come to terms with the fact that for years, Imphal continued to survive the potholed roads which kick up dusts during the dry season, as it is right now, and becomes slushy when it rains, and the primacy placed by the Government on repairing the roads is acknowledged. The focus of the Government should also be on the rigid pavements and take up steps to ensure that work for laying the roads does not continue to inconvenience the people endlessly. An example is the concrete road that is being put up at Thangmeiband on the road stretch that leads to the State Assembly from Khoya-thong. One wonders how long it will take to finalise the work, for the sky is likely to open up anytime now. At the moment the concrete road has been laid on one side of the road, and work on the other side is yet to start. Can work be taken up and finalised before the onset of the rainy season ? At the moment the Government focusing on the roads and lanes at the leikais is on the right move, and one hopes the tempo is kept up. It is also time for the Government to give a renewed thrust to the work that is being taken up on the road stretch that leads to Shija Hospital. An important route this is, and the Government cannot afford to forget that everyday hundreds go to this hospital.