MLA Temjenmenba, PWD officials, the contractor, village council representatives and others during the launching programme of Phase I of the Jangpetkong Road Construction Project at Orija Salang, Changki. (Morung Photo)
MLA calls for public cooperation as 20-km Phase I is launched at Changki
Morung Express News
Changki | October 30
The first phase of the Jangpetkong Road Construction Project was launched at Orija Salang, Changki, on Friday, with the project expected to address decades of poor connectivity in the region.
Phase I covers a 20-kilometre stretch from Changki X Junction to the end of Dibuia village. The road will be constructed as a 3.75-metre-wide standard single-lane road under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode. The total project cost is Rs. 39.71 crore, while the work order amount stands at Rs. 37.98 crore. The complete project will be implemented in three phases, covering approximately 62 kilometres from Changki X Junction to Luyong. Phase II is currently under process.
In his inaugural address, Temjenmenba, MLA and Advisor for Transport and Technical Education, Nagaland, described the project as the fulfilment of a long-standing demand of the people. “A dream for 30–40 years, a need of all the citizens, is being fulfilled today. We are creating history,” he said. He said the road had been repaired in parts since 1984, but the full stretch had never been constructed since Nagaland attained statehood.
Temjenmenba said, “Development comes only after roads; development does not come before roads. It is like we are taking admission in nursery school today. Only then can we go higher up.” He said the region was several decades behind other areas because of the lack of proper roads. “We are celebrating only today, but we the Jangpetkong people are going 40–50 years behind,” he said. “People have left us a long way behind. This is a day when we should learn a huge lesson.”
The MLA appealed to all village councils and landowners to cooperate fully with the project and warned against delays caused by local disputes or personal interests. “This should be a people’s project, not a government project,” he added, urging landowners to provide land wherever required for the road alignment.
Explaining the funding mechanism, Temjenmenba said the project had been sanctioned under the Central Road Fund scheme, under which the contractor would have to begin the work before receiving payment. He urged the executing agency to follow the guidelines and maintain transparency in the quality of work.
Er. Chubatoshi, Executive Engineer, PWD (R&B), Mangkolemba Division, said the road had remained connected over the years because of the support of church leaders, organisations, village leaders and local workers. “It is not because of the PWD alone that the road is still going,” he said.
He recalled the severe resource constraints faced by the division, stating, “There were times when the department had less than Rs. 5,000 annually for a kilometre of roads under the PWD Division of Mangkolemba.”
The programme was also informed that no compensation would be provided for construction of the road.
Niholu Ayemi, Director of M/s Ayemi Enterprises, assured the gathering that the project would be completed within two years. “The deadline is two years,” he said, assuring that the work would continue and would not be slowed down or stopped. He also sought the cooperation and protection of the village councils and the public during construction.
The programme was attended by representatives of village councils, church organisations and community bodies. Short speeches were delivered by C. Imo Walling, President of the Jangpetkong Senso Mungdang; Aodangnok Özükum, President of the NPF, 29 Jangpetkong Assembly Constituency; the President of the Jangpetkong Tetsür Telongjem; momanen Tzüdir, President of the JKTM; and village council chairmen from across the Jangpetkong Range.
