Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) has fervently appealed the state government, all hohos, Churches, village councils and other organizations to come together and help complete the decade-old proposal of constructing a foothill road connecting Dimapur with Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts.
In a statement, ASTD general secretary C. Onen Walling said the appeal followed an emergency meeting of ASTD on May 5.
ASTD said in the absence of the proposed road, the people of the state had to face “heavy tax of humiliation” with “unreasonable harassment” as they had to travel using roads in neighbouring Assam.
Stating that it was the “bounden duty” of the state government to address the issues faced by the people of the state, ASTD said the foothill road would mitigate the burden on the people as they have been facing numerous problems caused due to frequent bandhs called by organizations in Assam side.
ASTD also pointed out that Nagaland has also seen a massive increase in the number of vehicles not proportionate to the number of good roads which rendered the logic of procuring luxurious vehicles meaningless.
The organization has appealed the state government to take up the issue seriously and expedite the construction at the earliest.
In 2011, union DoNER minister BK Handique recommended two important roads in Nagaland to be included in the phase A of Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North Eastern States (SARDP-NE). The estimated cost was projected at Rs. 1484 crore.
(a) Construction and Upgradation of foothill road from Amguri NH 61 to Niuland via Longchem-Changpang – Governor’s Camp. Length: 189 kms with a total cost of Rs.813 Crores. (b) Extension of Peren road to connect Peren and Mhur on NH5 4, Assam via Tessen, Tening, Nsong (Nagaland), and Leike and Liasong (Assam). Length: 154 kms with a total cost of Rs.671 Crores.
It may be noted that in 2012, Naga Students’ Federation, concerned over the situation along Nagaland-Assam border, in the 7 point memorandum submitted to Nagaland Governor appealed for construction of foot hill road stretching the whole Nagaland-Assam boundary.
Even the Lotha Lower Range Public Organization in 2012 had demanded immediate construction of foothill road bordering Assam connecting Dimapur with Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts.
During the Mokokchung DPDB meeting on Monday, chaired by DPDB chairman and advisor NBDA, Dr. Longri, the issue regarding urgent need of improving Mokokchung-Mariani road and construction of foothill road was discussed at length
Travellers from Nagaland who are often victims of frequent road blockade resorted by people in Assam site were also discussed. The house considered that there is an urgent need to construct the foot-hill road connecting Dimapur to ease travellers from facing such hardships.
Reviving Mokokchung-Mariani road, the life-line to various other districts, also came up for discussions. Members further recommended to the state government for necessary action.
Sharing his concern over the pathetic condition of the road, DC Mokokchung said even transporters (Truck union) expressed their displeasure over the neglected the road.
The DPDB meeting was attened by minister for youth resources and sports, Merentoshi, parliamentary secretary, Dr. Benjongliba, MLAs– Amenba Yaden and S. Chuba, DIPR stated.