We are once again at that time of year when we showcase our potential to the rest of the world. The 3rd Northeast Region Agri Expo 2012 has just begun and next we will again be host to the mega Hornbill Festival beginning from December 1, which is also celebrated as Nagaland Statehood day. In fact if we can suggest here, we should go for quality instead of spending our time and money on too much of celebrations and programmes. Having the Agri Expo and Hornbill Festival is welcome and we need to make them bigger and better each passing year so that these can become truly international. Equally important for us to host these mega events, the State government along with the people of Nagaland will have to work together to ensure a peaceful atmosphere, clean surroundings and world class infrastructure. All this will not happen overnight and it will take time, a vision and sincere effort to realize our full potential. It will also mean that our work ethics need to improve, our government system must deliver and our moral values need to be strengthened. In today’s column, we would like to focus attention on the infrastructure front. All of us are well aware that for tourism and trade to flourish, we need good roads, regular supply of electricity, reliable transport, communication, proper banking system and also amenities like hotels and restaurants. Perhaps we can measure the state of our infrastructure and find out whether we are prepared to host tourists, traders and other visitors.
First and foremost we need to start building proper and bigger roads. Perhaps the biggest irritant for any visitor (including for us) is the deplorable roads and the traffic jams. While all of us are aware of the problem in the State Capital Kohima, the commercial hub of Dimapur has over the last few years become equally congested as far as vehicular traffic goes. Urgent steps are required to ease the traffic congestion before it becomes insurmountable. If we can suggest here, a forum like the Federation of Nagaland State Engineering Services Association (FONSESA) should also do more by way of coming up with ideas and suggestions. The role of engineers is going to matter a great deal when it comes to the development of our infrastructure sector. They should be at the forefront to shape, plan and guide the government. Also, the State government must do a thorough feasibility study on the traffic scenario and come out with a full scale remedy. It needs to invest more on improving the roads and traffic in both Kohima and Dimapur. A comprehensive plan must be put in place. The need for a ring road especially in Dimapur should be explored. The existing plans to build alternative routes should also be expedited. Off course it goes without saying that for all this to happen, our government must deliver and in particular we must strengthen our urban governance—the municipalities. In order to take development forward and make use of the well thought out policies and action-plans, we need to have the commensurate infrastructure.
