Test for ‘unity road’

 Nagaland Foot Hill Road Coordination Committee has been fully committed to the completion of the 256 kilometer project that was abandoned by the North Eastern Council(NEC) in 1974. The foothill road is a dream project because it seeks to cut short the travel time and distance from Dimapur –the trade and commerce centre of Nagaland-with Mokokchung, Longleng, Tuensang, Wokha, Zunheboto and Kiphire. The foothill road project is undoubtedly the most important and vital link that connects so many districts. Several apex Naga tribe organisations have been appealing with the state government to do everything within its means to ensure that the dream project comes through. The All the eleven Ao legislators, ten from Mokokchung and one from Dimapur, have also taken up the matter with utmost seriousness by meeting with the chief minister and impressing upon him the need to enable the early completion of the road. The project will also provide immense boost to trade and commerce by linking six districts and thus, its role as a catalyst for economic progress cannot be ignored. However, one of the most crucial aspect that makes the foothill road project is the fact that once completed, it will also help each and unhindered movement of people and goods from one part of Nagaland to another without being held ransom to bandhs or blockades imposed by spate of organisations in Assam. NFHRCC held a joint meeting with apex tribe hohos and CSOs at Liphayan on February 10 where it reaffirmed the February 5 resolution to complete the road within 2021. According to the NFHRCC so far 70.66% of the works have been completed. On the other hand, the Lotha Hoho had recently disclosed that it had filed a PIL in court over the issue of non-completion of the vital bridge linking with the road where 75% of money was paid for only 50% of work so far done as on January. This issue needs to be addressed at the earliest before the onset of monsoon. The current dry months till April is only about two months away. The earlier the road is complete, the better for the state and its people. In order to provide necessary funding for early completion, the state government should leave no stone unturned to impress upon the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to do the needful to ensure that the road project is taken up on priority. However, apparently, the project has been excluded among priority roads recently announced by the MoRTH. This newspaper had earlier emphasised that the state government should accord top priority to the foothill road by taking it up with utmost urgency with the government of India for inclusion as a ‘must priority project’. There are many other projects that are less important in comparison with the road project. The winter session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly beginning from February 12 should be an opportunity for the house to discuss on the matter and resolve to take it as state priority. If such an important link also described as the umbilical cord or ‘unity road’ connecting one half of the state with another cannot merit consideration by the state government as the state’s top priority project, then there is nothing more that can be said.