IMPHAL, April 25 - Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh has called for the introduction of e-rickshaws or battery-operated vehicles instead of diesel autos in and around Imphal.
Such vehicles will not only reduce traffic congestion but also check noise pollution caused by diesel autos and other public means of transport in the Bazaar area, Singh said today while chairing the first meeting of the Traffic Regulation and Parking Committee (Imphal East and Imphal West districts) held since the last two years.
The TRPC meeting took place at the Cabinet Hall of the Chief Minister�s Secretariat. It was attended by Commissioner (Transport) M Lakshmikumar Singh.
Mayor of Imphal Municipal Corporation L Lokeshwar, Additional DGP (Prisons) P Doungel, Deputy Commissioners Ningthoujam Geoffrey (Imphal West district), Th Chitra Devi (Imphal East district), SP (Traffic) Khoisnam Sarma Devi, Directors Gitkumar Nepram (MAHUD), Arthur Worchuiyo (Transport), Chief Engineer, PWD, Kh Temba and other officials were also present in the meeting.
The TRPC is a policy-making body comprising officers drawn from various line departments for planning, implementation and enforcement of traffic regulation and parking system.
During the day�s meeting, the Chief Minister asked the officials concerned for strict enforcement of the existing bye-laws, norms and regulations of the Government, besides exploring the possibility of dedicated lanes for emergency vehicles on the roads here.
The Commissioner (Transport), M Lakshmikumar, gave a powerpoint presentation on the problems of traffic regulation and parking spaces in Imphal area.
The meeting discussed the inconvenience caused due to traffic congestion in and around Khwairamband Keithel, the main market area, and Imphal city. Officials of several departments offered opinions, suggestions and measures to reduce traffic congestion here. The meeting also discussed the allotment of parking lots.
At the end of the meeting, Chief Minister Biren released a short film on traffic awareness and road safety.
