JOTSOMA, SEPTEMBER 4 (MExN): Minister for Roads & Bridges Kaito Aye today said that the proposal for 4-laning of Dimapur-Kohima road and By-pass road from Zubza to Kohima have already been agreed in principle by the Centre. He said the only hindrances were feasibility of 4-lanes in hills areas and problem with landowners in some parts. The Minister said this during a visit to the site of today’s mass social work carried out by villagers from Jotsoma on the by-pass.
It may be mentioned that the Jotsoma villagers on Saturday carried out a mass social work at the historic By-pass road, the main link road connecting the state capital Kohima and Dimapur after a stretch of NH-39 near KMC dumping site became unpliable for more than a month due to land subsidence.
Hundreds of villagers including young and old took part in the social work and around 15 excavators and 50 trucks belonging to the villagers were pressed into service for road-widening, stone and earth filling and clearing of drains.
Personnel from the Border Roads Organization and paramilitary forces including those from 16 Assam Rifles and 78 CRPF also volunteered for the social work. Representatives from the Angami Public Organization, Angami Students Union and Angami Women Organization also gave a helping hand.
Minister for Roads & Bridges Kaito Aye and Nagaland Assembly Speaker Kiyanilie also visited the site of the social work and interacted with the villagers. The minister lauded the efforts of the villagers in repairing and maintaining the road. He said that though the road is under BRO, the government and villagers were also extending a helping hand as BRO was also under stress due to natural calamities on NH-39. Acknowledging the collective work of the villagers and others, Kiyanilie said that in a welfare state, one should not only depend on government in all spheres.
Meanwhile, the villagers have expressed gratitude to the government, R&B minister and Speaker for financial assistance towards the social work.
Meanwhile the Jotsoma Village Council informed that around 2000 peoples with 15 JCBs, 25 tipper trucks, 30 trucks and 16 pick-ups from Jotsoma village took part in the work ‘with a hope to ease the heavy rush of traffic on the road.’ Jotsoma Village Council in a press note expressed gratitude to all the people of Jotsoma both in the village and those residing outside for their active participation in the work and all the owners of the machineries and motors, which included bulldozers, willingly donating their machineries without charge for the works. The council also expressed gratitude to the Government of Nagaland for providing financial help, legislators and officials “who visited the spot with encouragement and helps,” Kohima Chamber of Commerce, Angami frontals, 16th Assam Rifles, 78 Bn. CRPF and the BRTF. Doordarshan Kendra Kohima and the Print media are thanked for the coverage.
“The Jotsoma Village Council would also like to express our special thanks to all the people apart from the village who actively participated and showing their concerned for the safety of the general public,” a note from the council said today.
“Although it has been informed that the closure will be from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. due to incompletion of the work the traffic was closed till 7:00 p.m. We regret the inconvenience caused to the general public and thanks all the public for co-operating with the village for the day,” the note added.
