AIZAWL, April 25 - Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has been vigorously pursuing the task to free Aizawl city from traffic jams ever since assuming office.
The PAHOSS (Parking House Support Scheme), launched on February 6 this year, is a major initiative of the Mizo National Front Government to tackle the menace of traffic congestion here.
Under the PAHOSS, assistance will be given in the form of grants-in-aid for construction of parking houses. A meeting of the PAHOSS committee chaired by the Chief Minister at the Cabinet room today was informed that 419 applications have been received so far to get assistance under the scheme.
Private, recognised NGOs or local council landowners, who are willing to construct parking space for a minimum of five light motor vehicles (LMVs), will be eligible to receive the assistance as a grant-in-aid. The UD&PA Department will be the nodal agency for the scheme. Parking fees will be fixed by the Aizawl Municipal Corporation and collected by the landlords.
To be eligible for the scheme, an applicant needs to have a space for at least five LMVs or 30 two-wheelers. The parking house should be a permanent structure with walls not shorter than five feet.
The meeting today scrutinised applications received from four areas � Aizawl North, South, East and West. The meeting said that priority would be given to the Chanmari-Dawrpui and Sikulpuikawn-Khatla main roads where there is maximum traffic congestion.
With the number of vehicles rising rapidly every year, the small hill city of Aizawl has been facing acute traffic problems as the narrow roads, which are often used to park private vehicles, leave little space for two or more cars to pass.
According to the Aizawl Traffic Police, more than 80,00 vehicles operate on a daily basis here.
During his election campaign, Zoramthanga had said that his Government, if voted to power, would construct flyovers and parking lots at several locations to decrease the traffic congestion in Aizawl. He also spoke of constructing a two-storeyed flyover in the Assam Rifles area by relocating the Assam Rifles office from Aizawl to Zokhawsang.
