Ukl town chokes under traffic surge

Mungchan Zimik
Ukhrul, Dec 4 : Ukhrul Town is experiencing a surge in traffic volume causing severe congestion and parking issues and this has become a significant concern for pedestrians navigating the already crowded roads of the town.
Reports of road accidents, largely due to the increase in the number of vehicles operating in the town, have raised concerns among the local population, especially among the elderly.
In response, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ukhrul has issued a directive for the strict enforcement of traffic rules to prevent accidents and ensure public safety.
The traffic congestion stretches from Dungrei Junction to Kharasom Junction, covering a distance of at least 7 kilometers.
Local residents attribute the rise in accidents to reckless driving and chaotic parking, particularly in the main market area.
A local resident, W Ragui, stated that at least six people, including children going to Sunday school and elderly residents, were knocked down by speeding vehicles in the Tangrei area, near the Phungyo Baptist Church.
According to Ragui, the drivers involved were all intoxicated.
He also mentioned that just a week ago, a mother of two, K Luikham, was struck by a vehicle in front of Phungyo Church gate.
Luikham shared that after brief negotiations, the driver apologized, and his family agreed to cover her medical expenses.
In response to the danger, the locals of Tangrei have placed stone boulders along the stretch where the accidents occurred, warning drivers that the area is prone to accidents.
This is intended to encourage drivers to reduce their speed for the safety of all.
Frequent collisions, particularly at night, have been another concern, according to Luikham.
The Small Town Committee (STC) of Ukhrul has made efforts to alleviate traffic congestion and improve public safety.
The committee’s traffic regulation policy, introduced in 2021 under ADC-Ukhrul, included a vehicle parking management plan.
In 2022, the "Kachir Trust" was assigned the task of managing parking in Ukhrul town.
The trust prohibits double parking at eight locations in the town viz the Incubation Centre at Wino Bazar, opposite Long Ground, opposite Old Viewland Church Road, opposite Viewland Traffic Point, the Town Hall area, opposite the ZEO office, opposite the ADC office, opposite the UTBC, and opposite the 6 MR gate.
Additionally, the ADC office in Ukhrul imposes fines for traffic violations to encourage better adherence to the rules, including Rs 40 for parking in no-parking zones, Rs 300 for missing side mirrors, and Rs 500 for heavy commercial vehicles entering the town between 8 am and 4 pm.
However, these measures have largely been ineffective, as vehicle owners are unwilling to pay parking fees, resulting in significant financial losses for Kachir Trust.
In 2023, the responsibility for managing parking was transferred to the Ukhrul Police Department but the arrangement did not yield the desired results either.
The STC, which only has three regular staff members, also faces financial challenges in hiring full-time employees and their attempts to outsource parking fee management to NGOs also failed.
As a result, the STC’s efforts have largely been in vain, as the public, especially vehicle owners, have not been cooperative, said the locals.
With the festive Christmas season approaching, the residents of Ukhrul town urged the relevant authorities to strictly enforce traffic rules, set speed limits, and consider constructing more speed breakers to reduce vehicle speed.
These measures, they said, are needed to manage rampant parking and traffic congestion for the safety of the public.