Wide potholes cover almost the entire road at two different locations in Zunheboto main town area. (Morung photo)
DIMAPUR, JULY 23 (MExN): Deplorable, pathetic, miserable, pitiable etc are too inappropriate a word to describe the road condition in Zunheboto town – the district headquarter.
Denizens of Zunheboto town are now weary of talking about the road condition. Words and phrases such ‘pond,’ ‘lake’ ‘like a river where fishing can be easy’ have become overused to describe the roads and people now seem to be searching for new meanings to describe the road condition.
Literally, smooth metalled road surfaces do not stretch even for a metre or two. The worst is in main town area where muds filled into potholes have unevenly spread over the surface due to incessant rains thereby causing mess instead of serving the actual purpose. One worst affected part is the DC Office Complex area where insufficient parking space adds woes to the commuters and pedestrians alike. Some commuters say they have to snake around the road to avoid pits but they maneuver only to drive into another awaiting pit. Not even a year has passed since the 3 km road stretch from AOC to Laghilato AR Camp via helipad was repaired and now the road does not show any trace of repairing works carried out recently. This particular stretch passes through the main town.
One important route which the people of Zunheboto have been waiting for the works to start is the double-laning of Chakabama-Zunheboto road also known as the General Staff Road. According to a member of one prominent Sumi organization, the 130 km GS Road was approved by the centre under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme. It was learnt that a certain Hyderabad-based company had assured to take up the construction works by March 2011 but without any sign of taking off so far.
People have spoken enough about the duties and responsibilities that should be fulfilled by all those involved in the construction and maintenance of the road in Zunheboto. But all things remain the same. Who is to blame? The authorities responsible for failing to repair and construct the road in time or the contractors for allegedly using inferior qualities or the workmanship?
Denizens of Zunheboto town are now weary of talking about the road condition. Words and phrases such ‘pond,’ ‘lake’ ‘like a river where fishing can be easy’ have become overused to describe the roads and people now seem to be searching for new meanings to describe the road condition.
Literally, smooth metalled road surfaces do not stretch even for a metre or two. The worst is in main town area where muds filled into potholes have unevenly spread over the surface due to incessant rains thereby causing mess instead of serving the actual purpose. One worst affected part is the DC Office Complex area where insufficient parking space adds woes to the commuters and pedestrians alike. Some commuters say they have to snake around the road to avoid pits but they maneuver only to drive into another awaiting pit. Not even a year has passed since the 3 km road stretch from AOC to Laghilato AR Camp via helipad was repaired and now the road does not show any trace of repairing works carried out recently. This particular stretch passes through the main town.
One important route which the people of Zunheboto have been waiting for the works to start is the double-laning of Chakabama-Zunheboto road also known as the General Staff Road. According to a member of one prominent Sumi organization, the 130 km GS Road was approved by the centre under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme. It was learnt that a certain Hyderabad-based company had assured to take up the construction works by March 2011 but without any sign of taking off so far.
People have spoken enough about the duties and responsibilities that should be fulfilled by all those involved in the construction and maintenance of the road in Zunheboto. But all things remain the same. Who is to blame? The authorities responsible for failing to repair and construct the road in time or the contractors for allegedly using inferior qualities or the workmanship?
