Roads leading to RIMS ‘death traps’

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 23 : RIMS Road which is considered one of the most important roads leading to different health care facilities has become a ‘route for disaster’ with potholes and haphazard parking along the said route.
The potholes, apart from causing traffic congestion often, pose a serious threat to commuters.
Notably, different private hospitals and clinics are also situated along RIMS Road and the road leading to RIMS Hospital from Uripok Canteen side.
The two routes, however, have become unsafe for the commuters and motorists despite its importance due to the crumbling road infrastructure and haphazard parking on either side.
Moreover the pathetic road conditions coupled with unauthorised double parking inevitably slow down emergency service providers such as ambulance and people coming to hospitals on emergency cases.
The two routes are also unsafe during late hours as people may fail to notice the potholes when rushing to hospitals.
Apart from potholes, double parking along RIMS Road is also concerning as it causes traffic congestion and delays emergency responses thereby putting lives at risk.
Notably, there are many apparel, chemist and  optical stores along RIMS Road apart from hospitals, clinics and other shops and people have the tendency to park their vehicles wherever they think is convenient.
The road leading to RIMS Hospital from Uripok Canteen side is also no better.
Apart from potholes, the road is too narrow to accommodate the volume of vehicles traversing along the route during daytime and traffic congestion has become a regular phenomenon.
Again, frequent traffic congestions along this stretch endanger lives as it slows down people rushing to  hospitals for emergency cases.
Conveying his ordeal to The Sangai Express, an ambulance driver said that the majority of the road stretches in Imphal need maintenance.
Expressing desire for the Government to at least repair the two roads which lead to RIMS and other hospitals on priority basis even if there is shortage of funds, he said that navigating potholes, at times, is dangerous as drivers may lose control.
He said that some patient parties who he had transported were reluctant to traverse along RIMS Road and the other road from Uripok side which lead to RIMS Hospital. This speaks volumes of the conditions of the two roads.
Double parking along RIMS Road is another issue which needs to be addressed, he said and added that no ambulance driver can respond promptly to emergencies along the two routes.
Saying that they (the ambulance drivers) often take the road leading to RIMS Hospital from Uripok side when transporting patients, he added that the road, however, is too narrow.
Another person who is an auto driver said that potholes developed due to lack of maintenance.
Saying that the two roads leading to RIMS are very important as many hospitals are situated along the routes, he expressed desire for the Government to repair the roads.