Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, April 22
Mokokchung town, regarded one of Nagaland’s historic and important towns, is currently in need of alternative urban solutions to offset congestion that urbanization has caused on the town’s main highway and subsequent spatial pressure on the central urban areas.
The urban settlement has spilled onto the historical boundary of Mokokchung town. National Highway-2 is the only road that runs through the centre of the town but has become noticeably congested, and far from any scope for expansion.
With no alternative, the activity of the local population has become difficulty especially in engaging daily business.
The problem also takes into account another issue: traffic congestion faced by citizens and commuters. Traffic gridlocks during rush hours, costing time and money for the business community and commuters alike.
To offset said problem, and on the sidelines, possibly evince positive economic dividends, a proposal to construct a ‘ring road’ has been approved by the district’s development authorities. The proposed project is called ‘Northern Peripheral Road.’ The proposed road starts from NH-2 at the Tsusapang sector of Mokokchung village and ends at NH-702D at Khensa village. The project was approved by the District Planning & Development Board (DPDB) in 2015.
The length of the proposed road is 10.5 kilometres. The project estimates a cost of Rs. 24.90 crore approximately as per preliminary surveys. It will run through the edges of Mokokchung town on the northern side touching the periphery of Tsusapang sector of Mokokchung village, Alempang ward, Dilong Ward, Salangtem Ward, Kichutip ward, Yimyu Ward of Mokokchung Town and would end at Khensa village.
The executive engineer of the Public Works Department (national highways) of Mokokchung, Chubatoshi Ao, who undertook the preliminary survey offered insights about a proposal to construct a standard single lane road with a carriage way of 3.75 m in width and a formation of 7 m. He added that besides cutting new earth, 45 drains and 5 minor bridges/major culverts need to be constructed.
Mokokchung’s Deputy Commissioner Sushil Kumar Patel also spoke optimistically about the project. “In next five years, the traffic congestion in Mokokchung town will be much higher, for that we need a ring road,” Patel said. The administrator asserted that “It’s a future planning….to ease transportation and to come up new offices, houses and buildings if lands are donated.”
Every year, new offices come up but ‘we do not have land to provide,’ he explained. Tsuki Longkumer, a locally-known entrepreneur, and the current president of the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said “I am enthusiastically waiting for the proposed road to be fulfilled.” He opined that the proposed alternative, if it materializes, would give a chance for physical expansion of the town, and ultimately ‘increase in human population and boost the economic status of the town.’
During the celebration of Mokokchung town’s 125th year anniversary early this year, chief minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang had announced that the “northern ring road” recommended by the DPDB was a “genuine requirement” and that he would be taking the matter to the central government for funds.
If things go well according to plans, the alternative might ease congestion in the town and lift pressure of the local urban infrastructure besides offering a space to citizens. Besides, commuters from the town and neighbouring districts passing through can undertake comfortable and pleasant journeys without encountering urban and traffic snarls.
The PWD R&B division of Mokokchung has already prepared the project’s concept note and has submitted it to the government for approval.
