Traffic congestion in Kohima Town. (Morung Photo)
DC proposes major changes in town planning
Morung Express News
Kohima | April 4
The ever present traffic problem in the state capital has prompted the administration to take notice. The Deputy Commissioner of Kohima, W Honje Konyak on April 3 proposed a few measures to address the issue. Stating that the traffic problem is a serious issue for everyone, the DC asserted that the police and the administration have also been affected by the problem.
One of the focal points of the DC’s proposal was government acquisition of certain areas for road and parking space development. He also called for a major change to the present layout of the main town center.
The DC pointed out that the road between TCP gate to Oking hospital and the stretch from Razhu Point to Kitsubozou junction are the two main bottlenecks in Kohima town. He proposed the widening of the stretch from TCP gate to PHQ adding that it would be “comparatively easier” as there are very few heavy structures in the area. He stated that if the proposal was undertaken, the problem of parking vehicles on the carriage way would be solved to a certain extent.
The DC proposed that the government should acquire the land and buildings on both sides of the two aforementioned road stretches. He called upon the government to upgrade the roads to four lanes in the concerned areas. He added that the government would have to take a “strong decision” for the acquisition of the concerned areas and widening of the roads.
The DC further stressed on the need for better parking facilities in the town. He noted that with the exception of the Local Ground, there are no open parking areas in the main town center. The DC proposed acquisition of the Sokrozie lake area from the T Khel Union and develop the whole area as a parking lot. Konyak also made the bold suggestion that the entire old assembly and civil secretariat area should be transformed into an open parking area. He added that this would ease congestion in the main town center. He noted that a few offices like the KMC office, North Police Station, Election Office etc could be located to the area surrounding the proposed parking lot, while other offices are shifted to the New Capital Complex area.
The DC further called for a reconsideration of the Urban Development department’s proposed construction of a city center. He suggested that the aforementioned construction should be moved to somewhere in the “periphery” of the city. He added that the ongoing construction of a multi layered car park would hold only 20 per cent of the vehicles in the streets but that his proposal of an open car park would accommodate “maximum vehicles.”
Asserting that the commitment of the government would help materialize his proposals, the DC called upon the Chief Minister, Parliamentary Secretaries and MLAs of Kohima district to take notice. He further urged the authorities concerned to see that the “necessary steps are taken.”
The DC’s proposal comes as a sign of intent in the face of the general apathetic attitude displayed by most. With rapid urbanization in the state and increasing traffic congestion, certain people accept that town planning would require major changes. The DC of Kohima seems to recognize this fact by putting forward his bold suggestions.
