Zakir Hussain
Dimapur | December 27
When we talk about ‘roads,’ the things that come to our mind are cars, buses, trucks, bikes, auto-rickshaw, cycles and pedestrians. People use roads to commute from one place to another and vehicles are the nucleus of the commuting system of the 21st century and likely to remain so.
Dimapur as a city is quick growing but the roads are worsening quicker. Road conditions are very terrible in several parts of the city, but mainly difficult on 3rd Mile, Purana Bazar, Burma Camp, Golaghat road, Railway gate and both the flyovers of Dimapur. During rainy season, the city road faces the problem of water-logging and in dry season the problem of dust on neglected roads. The motorists have to face the problem of potholes, which are caused by several reasons.
The bad road conditions of Dimapur has affected business establishments, vehicle owners and common man. Even the Governor of Nagaland K Sankaranarayanan has made several comments on the bad road conditions of the State.
Sambhu, a grocer at Purana Bazar, said that the dust particles from the un-repaired road destroy sugar, wheat and other items since they are kept in the open, and also create health problems. “During rainy season the water will get inside the shop which affects our business,” he pointed out.
“Selling is badly affected; customers are not willing to come to the bakery due to dust factor. People say that a nullah is going to be constructed but I can’t see any nullah since seven months have passed. The boulders on the road-side is creating parking problem too, even the authorities are not concerned about it,” said BN Yadav of Popular Bakery at Purana Bazar.
While talking to few auto-rickshaw drivers at Railway gate, they said that the roads of Dimapur are the “third class” all over India and added that “Even the village roads are better than the roads in the city.”
Mesotso, a passenger, said “Roads of Dimapur are very bad because the government, the ministers and the officers have taken the money.” Kevin of Black Berry at Burma Camp also highlighted the same problem due to which his business is also suffering.
Amento Yepthomi, who rides a bike and also has a dealership at Golaghat road, said that due to poor road conditions, the bikes always have complaints of excessive oil consumption, jerking and shock absorbers’ problems etc.
“Driving on the roads of Dimapur is not satisfying. My vehicle has spring and bushing complaints while driving in Dimapur and every month, I have to come to the garage for repairing and checking,” said Nagahito, who drives a gypsy and maintained that the black topping does not last even for a month. He said that if this was the condition of Dimapur than what would be the condition those in other places.
G Khing who drives a bolero, highlighted that there is no maintenance of national highway and there were major potholes in the highways, as well. “I enter the town through Walford-Burma Camp road and not through the new flyover as the road condition of the new flyover is very bad,” said Itovi.
Dimapur as a growing city, the maintenance of road is very important; the road will wear down depending on its quality, load, traffic, weather etc. While water logging and rain can spoil the road within few days. It is very important to have an effective drainage system that will divert the water away from the roads. Further, to improve road conditions in Dimapur, concern authorities should carry out research on the quality of roads as well as increase their lifespan by treating them to endure all-weather.
