On offer: Indigenous cuisines, boating on Kangla moat, live music concerts
By A Staff Reporter
IMPHAL | Sept 24
The department of municipal administration, housing and urban development (MAHUD) is all set to launch a “Night Plaza” along the Kangla moat from October 2.
Speaking to media persons in this regards at the conference hall of old secretariat, MAHUD minister, Th. Shyamkumar said the idea behind the “Night Plaza” is to give good recreational space to the people which will help improve healthy family life in the city.
He said that this will also encourage extension of business hours in the core area of the city, thereby improving the overall economy of the state.
The plaza, which will stretch from Khoyathong junction to Raj Bhawan junction (eastern half of NH-2) will be opened every Saturday and Sundays from 7 pm to 10 pm without any entry fee. However, the plaza would remain open daily for 10 days during Sangai festival, he said.
Shyamkumar further said the ‘Night Plaza’ stalls will be opened strictly following the guidelines set by the department, appealing to the people to extend their cooperation to make the venture successful.
Additional chief secretary (MAHUD), J. Suresh Babu, informed that traffic along the stretch of the putative plaza will remain closed from 6 to 11pm.
Besides food stalls of various types including indigenous cuisines and boating on the Kangla moat, live concert sand other recreational activities will be arranged for the plaza, he said adding that altogether the department is planning to install 110 stalls (30 general stalls and 80 food stalls).
Moreover, the Suresh Babu said talented people will be provided platforms to showcase their talents without any charge.
In a release the department further elaborated that an organising and management committee has been constituted for overall supervision and coordination of the project. Various departments of the state government have been engaged for successful implementation of the ‘Night Plaza’.
It said MAHUD department will take care of overall coordination and implementation of the project, arrangement and allotment of stalls in the space earmarked by the town planning department and recreational activities, entertainment programmes and live concerts.
Town planning department will be in-charge of prescribing terms and conditions of the stalls, parking, boating, recreational activities. MSPDCL will take care of the decorative lighting of illumination of the venue, it added.
State police department will look into the security and safety of public and deployment of NCC cadets/Scouts & Guides for coordination and guidance. Traffic police will control and manage the traffic.
Drinking water, toilet and waste management will be looked after by the IMC while PDA will be in-charge of street furniture and MMTA/YAS will make arrangements for boating and providing of life jackets, it continued.
It further notified that persons interested in opening stalls can download application forms from website of Manipur Urban Development Agency (MUDA) http://muda.mn.gov.in. Last day of submitting forms is tomorrow. The stalls will be selected through draw lots to be held on September 27 at 11 am at GM Hall, Imphal.