A section of the un-repaired road near Central Jail, Dimapur which is a crucial life-line of Nuiland district and for ferrying goods from Assam. (Morung Photo)
Despite promises, road from Central Jail towards Niuland remains unrepaired
Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 24
Non-repair of roads beginning at Central Jail, Dimapur leading towards Niuland has left the area residents in distraught.
The whole stretch of the road, totalling approximately 5 Kilometres till the four-lane National Highway intersection, is among the busiest roads as it connects the district of Nuiland; contains a considerable number of educational institutions, hospital and several villages located in its periphery. A large number of goods laden trucks from Assam and private vehicles also ply this road leading to traffic congestion at times.
One of the area chairpersons, Reyopoyi Nyekha, Chairperson of Naga United Village Council, told The Morung Express that the road has not been repaired for several years now. Naga United Village has about 1,200 households with a total population of at least 6,000 individuals.
Nyekha said that the village and colony leaders had earlier met with officials from the Public Works Department (Road and Bridges) and the SDO in-charge to bring attention on the issue. “They had promised earlier to build the roads in October but now it is November and nothing has happened yet,” he said.
Similarly, a shop-keeper at the side of the road, noted that the road has been in this condition for several years. “I don’t believe that this road will be repaired any time soon,” he said.
He lamented how dust fumes that are kicked up from moving vehicles dirty the buildings and goods hanging from his shop every day. “For years, they have been saying that the road will get repaired soon without anything materialising,” he commented.
Meanwhile, the State Government appears to be aware of the road conditions, as earlier in March this year, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had assured to send the PWD (R&B) to repair the road leading towards the Christian Institute of Health Science and Research (CIHSR) located on this stretch.
Recently too, incumbent MLA of the area (Ghaspani I) and State Minister for PHED Jacob Zhimomi assured to take up this matter with the government soon while addressing a function on November 19.
“We will try our best to fulfil the wishes of the people, maybe perhaps not overnight but we will see that the road sector is improved drastically,” the Minister said at that time.
While the residents await government action, Nyekha said that school-going children, pregnant women and terminally ill patients struggle the most due to the road condition.
During the rainy season, the roads become muddy and difficult to traverse for pedestrians. But as the dry season begins, the residents have to face the problem of dust particles being kicked up by moving cars.
The colony also suffers from inconsistent electricity supply as well. “We cannot even use fans properly during summer due to the constant power outage,” Nyekha added.
With the State General Elections scheduled to be held next year, the village chairperson admitted that he would, personally want to elect someone “who has concern for the needs of our village. Someone who has the heart to work for the welfare of the public; that is someone I wish to support this time.”
