23rd Dec 2021 11:12:PM Editorials
Eastern Sentinel Arunachal News

No matter how wide you make the roads, the lack of parking space beats the purpose. One look at Arunachal's capital Itanagar will prove this. The entire stretch of the city's main thoroughfare and arterial roads are chocked with vehicles on both sides thereby narrowing the road significantly  and hampering smooth flow of traffic. If previously one thought that highway widening works once complete will control traffic congestion that has been demystified. 
Traffic congestion has become a regular sight for Itanagar and its adjoining areas with long queue of vehicles remaining stuck during peak hours. Growing population, increasing vehicle numbers and ongoing road works are equally responsible. 
To be fair however, authorities and traffic personnel alone cannot be blamed for the madness on the streets. An obstinate population brazenly flouts traffic rules and traffic personnel are helpless in stopping commuters taking wrong turns, entering one ways, parking in ‘no parking’ zones etc, not to forget dumping of construction materials on road sides eating up precious free space. All these add up making driving and traffic management equally difficult.
Traffic chaos will rule as the state has a non-existent public transport system. There are more private vehicles on the roads as opposed to public transport resulting in heavy traffic burden. The few state transport buses that ply within the capital region are too less and erratic for commuters liking. Plus the private taxi service is also not an option given the high tariffs.  
Arunachal must learn from Meghalaya in this regard which has in place a robust taxi system with fares which are easy on peoples’ pockets.
Among the many problems of a growing city like Itanagar, traffic management has also become a major issue and needs a multi-pronged approach.  One wonders what happened to the tow trucks/cranes which were flagged off with great show few years back. In all likely they must be lying in some government garage wasting away.
 


Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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