Dimapur Traffic Police battle congestion and indifferent public

DIMAPUR — Dimapur is grappling with severe traffic congestion following the closure of the road over-bridge (ROB) near Hotel Tragopan on National Highway 29 since October 1. With the ROB undergoing infrastructure work, traffic volume has surged on alternate routes, causing substantial inconvenience for commuters, from students and employees to businesses trying to operate smoothly.

On the other hand, the Dimapur Traffic Police is also facing significant challenges with increased shifts and lukewarm public cooperation.

Acknowledging the inconveniences, N Likao Odyuo, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Traffic Control, Dimapur, noted that the current arrangements are not permanent. He appealed to commuters to co-operate with authorities and familiarise themselves with the revised traffic protocols as public support is vital for smoother traffic flow.

Also read: Students, parents pay heavy price for Dimapur road restrictions

In addition to obeying traffic rules, he also requested the public to refrain from going out ‘unnecessarily’ during rush hours, unless there are emergencies.

To monitor the heavy traffic flow, he said, traffic police have increased manpower across key junctions, with additional personnel deployed and working extended hours from 6 am to 8 pm in shifts.

Odyuo said that the Deluxe Point and Tourist Lodge traffic points, positioned at either end of the city’s only flyover, are currently bearing the brunt of the increased traffic.

As the route from Deluxe Point to Holy Cross junction has been converted to a one-way system, he said that a signboard has been put up at Deluxe Point. This signboard clearly directs commuters to the appropriate lane based on their destination, either Clock Tower or Dhobinallah.

However, a number of commuters are not paying attention to the sign, thereby, creating bottlenecks further down the road at Holy Cross junction.

Admitting that the revised routes have increased what used to be a five-minute drive to even an hour, he appealed to the public for patience, urging them to “go with the flow.”

He went on to say that even traffic personnel are facing difficulties navigating the heavy congestion, particularly during peak hours, while emphasising the importance of drivers’ cooperation in adhering to the new rules and navigating the altered routes safely.

Meanwhile, traffic personnel Liben Patton, stationed at the congested Tourist Lodge point, described the traffic jam resulting from the ROB closure as “severe.” He and three fellow officers were working to manage the intense traffic flow in the area.

Yansathung Lotha, a regulation duty personnel, noted that though not everyone obeys the new traffic rules, many have started catching up, and expressed hope that all commuters would gradually catch up with the new rules.

Stating that it is a challenging time for all, he also shared how personnel on duty are fatigued as they are unable to rest even for a few minutes because of the traffic congestion.

While there has been an increase in deployment, Lotha said that deploying sufficient personnel at all affected areas remains a struggle. “We cannot send sufficient personnel at all points,” he said.