The pathetic condition of the old GS road below the flyover bridge connecting Dimapur railway station. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 23
Good roads infrastructure, regarded as a crucial indicator of economic development and prosperity, has been left wanting for Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur, as its roads have been crumbling and deteriorating gradually due lack of maintenance and repairs.
This is especially evident in the down town areas of Dimapur where potholes have emerged across all the major roads. At old GS road, below the flyover bridge connecting the vital Dimapur railway station the condition of the road has deteriorated so much that large puddles have caused undue suffering for the commuters who have to rely on this path. It has been among the most neglected roads in Dimapur, including the commercial areas of Marwari Patti and the adjoining areas.
Auto drivers in the area shared their grievances of having to traverse through the dirty road which gets filled with mud and sludge after the rains. Moreover, passengers have to bear the uncomfortable experience of riding along bumpy, dusty and often dirty roads.
Ideally, providing good roads for citizens should be at the foremost priority of any government. During this year’s state general election as well, the Nationalist Democratic Progressive People’s (NDPP) party had boldly stated in their manifesto to transform “Nagaland towards a State of Excellence.”
Post-election however, ground realities have not improved; rather road infrastructure has deteriorated further. It must also be mentioned that all three of the elected representatives of Dimapur I, II and III constituencies belong to the NDPP and BJP, who make up the current ruling government of the state.
During the Annual Development Outlay for the year 2023-24, the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio who also holds the finance portfolio, reported that an amount of Rs 5,680 lakh has been provided for development and improvement of roads, rehabilitation of bridges for the Roads and Bridges sector.
The Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) Administrator had also previously mentioned that in order to make Dimapur cleaner, they required better road condition, which was the responsibility of the concerned departments for maintaining the various roads. “On the part of the DMC, we require better road surface to clean Dimapur,” he noted.
Ironically the road stretch at Landmark colony, Dimapur where the PWD department’s office is located has also been among the most neglected roads.
In a recent poll of The Morung Express, where readers were asked what policy measure are required to improve road infrastructures, 75% responded with ‘Good governance.’ “Nagaland needs good accountable governance, which is the need of the hour, it will save us and we have to start laying the foundations for a better tomorrow, not a disastrous one,” one reader had commented.
