DIMAPUR, July 8 � Dismayed over the appalling condition of roads in Nagaland, the Nagaland Unit of the BJP has appointed two party office-bearers to go into the reasons behind it.
A party release issued by BJP general secretary and spokesman K James Vizo said the road condition throughout the State is getting from bad to worse.
The release pointed out that the Dimapur-Kohima National Highway 29, the lifeline of the State, has become the worst highway in the entire North East region.
The party president, Dr M Chuba Ao, has deputed vice-presidents Yanghuse Sangtam and Er Senkathung Jami to find out the reasons for the substandard and indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned and submit the reports on or before July 25. Based on their findings, the party will initiate its course of action, the release stated.
During a recent visit to Mon district, the party officials got the taste of the deplorable road condition from Namtola to Mon district headquarters. It nearly takes a three-hour drive to cover the 44-km stretch of the road from Namtola to Mon town as major portions of the road are waterlogged, resembling fishery ponds.
The BJP said that despite many appeals and write-ups by the party and various eminent citizens, there has been no improvement in the road conditions in the State, nor were there any tangible effort by the authorities concerned in this regard.
The party recalled that former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, during his visit from Dimapur to Kohima by NH 29, had said, �If this is supposed to be the best road then it is difficult to imagine how bad the worst is.�
�One can easily differentiate the quality of workmanship and the type of materials used by the same group of authorities (BRO) managing the road from Assam gate via Khakati to Dimapur. So also the road at Jessami-Phek. One can feel the difference of the road between the Manipur side and the Nagaland side,� the release stated.
The party said that the tasks of BRO will be handed over to National Highway authorities. But it does not necessarily mean that �they (BRO) should adopt a complacent attitude� in their works. �The good reputation and pride of the organization, which immensely contributed in building nation and international roads should not be tarnished by a few vested interest and incompetent personnel,� it added.
