Imphal: Imphal poured crores into the Smart City Mission. The results remain locked away. A mechanized rotary parking facility at Nagamapal sits silent. It was built to hold 42 cars and 72 two-wheelers. It currently holds nothing.
Traffic continues to choke Thangal Bazar and Khwairamband Bazar. Drivers fight for space on the streets. The parking project was part of a larger, four-unit plan costing 33.65 crore. None of these facilities have eased the congestion they were meant to solve.
The trouble extends to the streets. Elevators installed on pedestrian footbridges stay powered down. They were designed for the elderly and those with disabilities. Now, these people cannot use the bridges. The lifts are broken promises. The city has left them as empty shells.
The Smart City Mission finished in 2025. Officials have provided no clear reason for the shutdown. Nobody knows which department owns the maintenance duty. Residents are tired of the silence. They want answers regarding the wasted public funds.
The situation highlights a deep governance gap. Infrastructure is built but never turned on. A local report noted the reality: "Urban infrastructure derives its value not from inauguration ceremonies or project reports, but from everyday public use."
Citizens are now demanding a timeline. They want the state to fix the machinery and open the doors. Until then, these expensive steel structures stand as hollow monuments. They offer no service to the people who paid for them.
Comments