In another road mishap in Imphal, Manipur, a two-wheeler vehicle rammed into a cycle while trying to overtake another vehicle on the Wangkhei-Kongba road on Wednesday evening.
Although no casualties were reported, the minor mishap highlights the circumstances under which commuters face daily along the deplorable road.
The incident is not an isolated case but part of a chain of road mishaps which have been steadily increasing ever since the road stretch became defunct from the past two-three months.
The deplorable condition is similar, although varying in road condition, in major traffic heavy road stretches in Imphal area — some of which are, the Naoremthong-Takyel road, Khuyathong-Nagamapal road, Singjamei-Kongba road, Singjamei-Canchipur road; the transit road between New Checkon and Wangkhei Khunou; the stretch leading to Shija hospital, RIMS and JNIMS have all fallen victim to negligence and inaction.
Even the road leading to two major hospitals near MP Sanajaoba’s official residence at Palace Compound is devoid of any repair work.
Voicing discontentment over the issue, irate locals in the Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi area, Imphal staged a protest on Tuesday, blocking the Imphal-Kongba road in response to the suspension of blacktopping works.
The protestors issued a 10-day ultimatum to authorities demanding immediate resumption of the stalled roadwork.
The locals raised health concerns from prolonged exposure to air pollution from the toxic mixture of fumes and dust. They also noted the increase in road mishaps due to prolonged disregard for road repair.
Chief Minister N Biren Singh in October announced the sanctioning of Rs 3,500 crore for the construction of concrete roads in Imphal, Greater Imphal, and the district headquarters of hill districts.
A recent data provided by the Public Works Department noted that a sum of Rs 1,300.21 crore was sanctioned for road and bridge projects in the Valley area of Manipur during the period from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
Irate locals started questioning the whereabouts of these as they have failed to witness any concrete actions in line with the budget.
Imphal as an urban hub has been witnessing rampant rise in various forms of major pollution, one of which is air pollution. The degrading road condition mixed with rise vehicle fumes has raised serious concerns among environment activists and Imphal dwellers.
According to a Lancet report, India’s toxic air particulate matter and household air pollution claimed 1.24 million lives in 2017. That is 12.5 per cent of the deaths recorded that year in India. While in 2021, it claimed as many as 16 lakh deaths according to a recent Lancet report.
The locals within the Imphal area are eagerly waiting for authorities to start repair work and make the lives of commuters easier.
