IMPHAL | Oct 2
Chief minister N. Biren Singh launched ‘Imphal Evenings’, a weekend plaza on Kanglapat road amidst much fanfare and glittering lights tonight.
A brainchild of Biren Singh, the idea behind the plaza is to give recreational space to the people of the state with an aim to improve healthy family life and introduce the culture of night life.
The plaza will be opened on every Saturday and Sunday from 7 pm to 10 pm without any entry fee on the stretch from Khoyathong junction to Raj Bhawan junction (eastern half of NH-2).
On the first day today, a huge crowd turned up at the plaza and all the stalls had brisk business.
Biren and MAHUD minister Th. Shyamkumar graced the launching function as chief guest and president respectively.
Deputy chief minister Y. Joykumar, PHE minister L. Dikho, and Rajya Sabha MP Ksh. Bhabananda also attended the function as guests of honour.
Biren Singh said the new initiative had been introduced to present an opportunity to the people to spend quality time with their families and friends together.
Manipur is being portrayed as a trouble-torn state and most of the people of other states and countries generally have a wrong notion about Manipur that nobody ventures outside after dark in the state, he added.
As such, the new government tried to show to the world that Manipur is no more a trouble-torn place and it can also have a night life, Biren said.
He also expressed hope that the plaza would be able to give self employment to many unemployed youths.
Seeking suggestions from the public, the chief minister said that the government would put in effort to make the plaza better and more beautiful.
The chief minister added that every type of intoxicant is strictly banned at the plaza.
In his presidential speech Shyamkumar said that the brain behind the plaza is the chief minister.
He sought suggestions from the public to make the plaza better and successful.
The government has earmarked space for 102 stalls at the plaza. However, the government received only 92 applications so far.
On the launching day today, only 56 parties turned up to open stalls.
40 stalls have been reserved for indigenous food items, 25 for fast food items, 15 branded restaurants and 30 for general stalls.
One police booth each at Khoyathong and Raj Bhavan junctions and two booths at Kangla western gate were opened to monitor security and guide the visitors.
For safety measures, there were booths for medical and Manipur fire service personnel. Apart from this, every stall has been instructed to mandatorily keep a fire extinguisher each.
Imphal Municipal Corporation also deputed 30 volunteers at the plaza to assist the visitors, stall owners and police.
Manipur police department deputed 30 plains cloth personnel to assist the crowd and ensure security.
Four points have been reserved for the talented persons who wish to present/showcase their skills at the plaza free of cost.
Mobile toilets are kept at two places for the convenience of the public. On the other hand, 10 bio-toilets have been procured for the plaza.
The food stalls were instructed to sell only fresh and healthy items approved by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) and State Food Safety Authority.
State food safety personnel will regularly monitor the quality of the food items sold at the plaza.
In addition to stalls, boating facility was provided at Kangla moat.
Read more / Original news source: http://www.ifp.co.in/item/4055-imphalites-get-a-taste-of-night-life