The initiative to conduct the one week traffic awareness programme in the State Capital Kohima could not have come at a better time with the problems and issues related to traffic becoming a matter of serious public concern. Due credit therefore goes to the traffic police, the Kohima district administration, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) and the civil society organizations like the Naga Students Federation, Angami Public Organization and Kohima Village Youth Organization. The call for a concerted effort to ease traffic problems in the State Capital while welcomed also requires a sense of urgency on the part of all stakeholders. During the inaugural programme held on June 1, many well thought out suggestions and ideas have been floated. Several more of such inputs will be gathered by the end of the exercise. It is important to document some of the practical suggestions and convert it into policy exercises in the days to come. The concerned authorities should follow up on the suggestions and recommendation coming out of the week long exercise. And as rightly mentioned by one of the participants—MLA Nicky Kire—a united effort will be needed to ease traffic problem, which is the responsibility of all concerned citizens.
While several reasons can be attributed for the problem, it is generally agreed that one of the causes of traffic jams is indiscipline and the main idea of launching the Traffic Week is to inculcate sense of discipline among the drivers. While it is expected that drivers should follow instructions given by the concerned authority and should be aware of traffic rules and regulations, one cannot but make a strong mention on the need to expect similar discipline from our VIP road users—most notably our honourable Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Army Officers etc. There should be no reason why a VIP vehicle should not be penalized if it breaks the law. This column also fully agree with the view made by the Angami Public Organization representative that the VIP/VVIPs should also take steps to minimize the use of escort vehicles during rush hours. Other noteworthy suggestion includes using of school bus and desisting from using official vehicle for school duty. Likewise, the micro management of traffic by KVYO volunteers is a welcome sign and needs to be replicated in other places for the purpose of regulating vehicular traffic. Citizen groups can be roped in on a more regular basis to help in administration and supervising of vehicular movement.
The present traffic scenario is therefore a fit case for the District and Police administration in Kohima and Dimapur to urgently review traffic control. To begin with, a strategy needs to be immediately adopted to ease traffic woes. It is suggested that an in-depth survey is done of all available routes for vehicular movement and after careful study; restrictions such as one-way traffic and diversion etc. can be notified through the local media. The recent initiative of the Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), which is working on a Master Plan for management of traffic in Dimapur is welcomed. Kohima for that matter presents a bigger challenge and a dilemma given its topography and other natural constraints. But in order for the State Capital to keep pace with its physical growth, urgent intervention is required to provide a long term solution. Hopefully, the plan for upgradation of the State Capital into a model complex will also take into account the problem areas of road and traffic and solutions thereof.
