The CPI Manipur State Council on Friday demanded authorities concerned to scrap the plans for construction of a mechanised rotary parking on the western front of Irabot Road in Imphal city.
The council maintained that putting up such a structure in the congested residential and business would lead to unwanted problems and diminish the historical significance of the road which is named after Lamyanba Hijam Irabot.
State CPI cautioned that the party along with masses would erupt in protest if they pushed forward with the construction by disregarding the public’s grievances.
Speaking to media at Irabot Bhawan, Imphal, former secretary of CPI-MSC L Sotinkumar stated that the Imphal Smart City Limited had recently published a notice inviting tender for construction of mechanised rotary parking in four different locations.
The locations are Nagamapal (near Kasturi Bridge), Ima Keithel (Irabot Road), Near Sanjenthong bridge and Secure building (North AOC).
“The width of Irabot road is around 12 feet. It is a teeming business and residential area with around 200 business plots and nearly 3,000 residents,” he said.
He pointed out that constructing such a structure in the middle of such a congested hub lacked proper planning on the department’s part.
He highlighted that unauthorised parking, street vendors and unwarranted garbage dumping were some of the primary concerns strangling Irabot road at the moment.
The movement of the people is already disrupted as it is but now the government is inviting more problems instead of rectifying the issues, he added. He maintained that the residents and business in Irabot road would be greatly impacted if the parking structure was constructed.
“The management of traffic in the area would be overwhelming. Instead, the authorities should try to stop the unauthorised activities conducted in Irabot Road and develop it to preserve its cultural and historical significance,” he said.
He informed that residents and business owners in the area had voiced their complaints to the MAHUD department regarding the issue.
It would be more feasible if they chose another suitable site for the structure after thorough verification and planning, he added. The state CPI-MSC had also submitted a complaint to the MAHUD minister to change the location for the construction from Irabot road.
