DIMAPUR, MARCH 23 (MExN): The Nagaland State unit of the BJP met Nagaland Governor, Dr. Ashwani Kumar, at Raj Bhavan, Kohima, on March 21 last and apprised him on issues pertaining to the National Highways maintained by Border Roads Organisation (BRO), status of airlines flying in and out of Nagaland, railways and DDK Kohima.
Recalling the assurance given by the Governor in September 2013 to take the matter to the “appropriate authorities” at the Centre with regard to infrastructure building such as Roads-under BRO & NH, Railways, and Communication - BSNL, the Nagaland BJP delegation lamented that “there has been hardly any improvement, except some improvement in the roads.” The Party appealed to the Governor again to urgently take these matters up with the Central Government. This was stated in a press release from the K. James Vizo, spokesperson and general secretary of BJP Nagaland.
While interacting with the Governor, Nagaland BJP unit’s president, Dr. M. Chuba Ao, expressed resentment over the “quality and the workmanship of the BRO” as well as “resurfacing” which “halted its work near police check gate Dimapur.” The BJP has learnt from the Governor that the reason for halting these works is due to “non-release of fund by the Central Govt. The Central Government has sanctioned funds only for 38 Kms which has been utilized.” The BJP also learnt that the Centre is yet to approve the work for about 18km at Kohima and 12km at Dimapur to be handed from BRO to PWD.
The BJP State unit, whose delegation to the Governor included Dr. M. Chuba Ao, K. James Vizo, R. Sopu vice-president and Bimal Shethi treasurer, recalled that “When the Party delegation met the BRO Chief Engineer Sewak (BRO), Vinod Kumar on 20th oct. 2013, he stated that the road from Dimapur to Mao gate will be completed by 31st March, does he meant by march 2015? Therefore, in this regard, the party would like to seek the clarification from the BRO.”
The Party has seriously viewed the “indifferent attitude of the BRO in Nagaland,” and stated that Nagaland State needs to be “treated in equality at par with other States in India, it therefore fervently appeal to the concerned authority to change its complacent attitude in the interest of the people of the state in general and in particular to build its own image of the most reputed organization of the Nation.”
On the issue of airlines, the BJP State unit expressed its disappointment over the cut down of services to the State to only 5 times a week. On railways, it demanded for more reservation quota and the urgent need to construct platform numbers 2 and 3 of the Dimapur railway station. On DDK Kohima, the BJP expressed the need to improve infrastructure and acute shortage of manpower in the Kendra “which has been functioning without a regular Director or Station Director.”
