Are the Main Town Roads Only for the Privileged?

Having experienced much difficulty and contemplating for quite some time, I am obligated to pen my concern on my own behalf and, I believe, for a significant section of the populace. I do not own a private vehicle and thus have to resort to public/commercial conveyance for my daily commute to and from office and also for other works outside of home.

With the restriction of plying auto-rickshaws within the busy GS Road and Church Road stretch, a bulk of the public without private vehicles are facing immense difficulty as they have to commute by auto-rickshaws for both or either official and personal works. A major section of the populace cannot afford private vehicles, be it four wheelers or two wheelers; hence the pinch is being faced on a daily basis by this section of the populace who have to venture out of home for their livelihood as they have to take long detours and pay extra fare because of the said detour.

I also understand that with the allowance of auto-rickshaw within the said routes would pose traffic issues to some extent as our streets are stretched to its limit by the ever increasing number of vehicles. Nevertheless, the poorer public with no private conveyance are as much as citizens as those with the luxury of private conveyance. The district authority/concerned authority as such must strategise to bring a balance so that the poorer section of the society are not made to dole out beyond their means for something which the concerned authority may well be able to streamline with strategic planning.

Hence, I earnestly appeal the District Administration/ Dimapur Police, Traffic Control Zone/ concerned authority to kindly look into the matter and do needful to ease the burden of many who are facing immense difficulty in commuting within the Dimapur town area for varied purposes. The public facing the brunt will ever remain grateful for the consideration and planning that is inclusive for both the privileged and the less privileged.

Naro Longkumer
Prodigals’ Home
Dimapur