Mound Of Blocks, Sands Create Traffic Congestion

SILCHAR: One of the main reasons for traffic congestion as well as choke a block in this town is the narrow roads which are further compounded by unchecked encroachment of footpaths and pavements. Roads cannot be broadened due to the growing township and ever increasing concrete jungle, leaving no space for further development. The situation is quite suffocating with noise and sound pollution all around. Further, the greenery, pride of the town, has declined and almost vanished. What has further added to the problem is the stock piling of concrete blocks and sands on the busiest Central road that links highways to Imphal, Aiwazl, Agartala and Guwahati.

Not only the pedestrians, but all sorts of vehicular traffic are severely inconvenienced in their movement. The heaps of sands and blocks are deposited at least at two spots, close to each other on the road within a radius of 25 feet. “This has been there”, as Sukumar Bagchi, a roadside vendor, said “for the last four or five days.” There is none to ask any question as if the road has been turned into space for anyone’s use. Anil Nath, a petty businessman of the area, says it appears there is no authority to take action against the erring person, the contractor.

Baranya Dey, the resident of the locality identified as Nazirpatty, expressing his displeasure said it is really a very irritating matter for the road users. With moving vehicles, the sands are blown up that causes air pollution, adding to the nauseating experience for all. Nobody knows when the raw materials were left on the road. This might have happened at the dead of night. In view of the serious traffic jam and the resultant inconvenience to pedestrians, men and women of all ages, a senior citizen of the town rang up Niharendra Narayan Thakur, chairman, Silchar municipal board, and wanted to know all about the public nuisance.

The chairman was surprised to hear, but assured to look into the matter and accordingly initiate action for removing the blocks from the road. More in trouble was Mani Singh, traffic police man at the tri junction controlling the vehicular traffic. As he said, “I am finding it extremely difficult to control the traffic. I am helpless.” Since the road in question and the materials lying there fall under ward no. 23, some persons contacted the commissioner Birabrata Roy and wanted to know if he was aware of it. Roy admitted since there is no space in the area, the contractor has deposited the materials on the road and will remove them by this night. Will it happen, this is the big question?

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