No Horn Zones stop none from honking

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 23 : Even as honking in No Horn Zones is prohibited, except in emergencies, the order issued by the Directorate of Transport on April 27, 2017 designating several areas in Imphal including those in front of CM Bungalow and Raj Bhavan as Silent Zones has fallen on deaf ears as motorists honk whenever they please.
Areas from Kali Mandir to Raj Bhavan main gate, Raj Bhavan main gate to Keishampat traffic junction, Raj  Bhavan to North AOC, CM Bungalow to Palace Gate are designated as No Horn Zones as per the order issued under Rule 119 (1) (2) of Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 (Amendment Rules 2016)  along the areas in front of Manipur High Court complex , Manipur Legislative Assembly, Cheirap Court and surrounding areas of Imphal West DC office, Lamphel Court complex, hospitals and  educational institutions.
Signboards are also erected at many of these places designating them as No Horn Zones  but people are seemingly unaware of the fact that honking is not allowed at these places.
Honking and using loud objects such as gas horns are prohibited at No Horn Zones  and  disobeying the regulation is punishable under Sections 177 and 188 of Motor Vehicles Act 1988.
Apart from the Directorate of Transport, the then Additional Director of Forest and Environment had also issued an order in 2013 designating  the area in front of Raj Bhavan and some other places such as  Keishampat Junction as No Horn Zones to check noise pollution.
The Government has also installed No Horn Zone signboards at road dividers and other spots at many of these notified Silent Zones to make people aware that honking is not allowed at these places but commuters don't obey the regulation.
Even as commuters honk at Silent Zones whenever they please, Government officials are also hardly seen taking action against the defaulters.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, a Traffic Police officer said that they face serious inconveniences in enforcing the Government's order due to lack of manpower, vehicles and equipment.
Saying that most of these No Horn Zones are congested, he added that traffic congestion at these places is increasing day by day during morning and evening times due to the school, college and office timings.
He also said that Traffic Police are doing whatever they can with the available personnel to ensure smooth traffic flow and at the same time penalise violators of traffic rules.
Involvement of Traffic personnel is required to ensure smooth flow of traffic even though traffic lights have been installed at strategic locations.
Further stating that many commuters violate Traffic rules even in the presence of Traffic personnel, he added that violating Traffic rules is one of the leading causes of vehicular accidents.
He said that awareness on Traffic rules is low among the commuters even though the Traffic police have been imposing fines on the defaulters.
Further stating that No Horn Zone sign boards need to be installed at  easily visible areas, the Traffic officer appealed to all to cooperate with them in ensuring the safety of commuters by obeying Traffic rules.