NST issue: Org. says visited office but no officer in station

Dimapur, May 4 (EMN): A community group in Kiphire district has clarified that they had visited the establishment of the Nagaland State Transport (NST) in regard to recent complaints that transportation services were unavailable in the district. The organisation, the Citizens Welfare Society (CWS), stated to have visited twice the NST but there were no officers at the establishment. The group issued a press release on Saturday offering updates. The press release stated: ‘The CWS of Kiphire while appreciating the department for admitting the shortcomings, it would also like to further clarify that the CWS on two occasions had visited the office at Kiphire but “no concern officer” was in the station.’ ‘While interacting with some of the staff station at Kiphire, it was confirmed that the bus services had been stopped as stated,’ the organisation stated. However, the CWS explained, “It’s a naked truth” and the ‘public knows how the service is offered for the past months.’ Kiphire is situated in some of the remotest parts of Nagaland, the press release stated. It has “the longest distance covered from the state capital” and should have usable and good vehicles, the group stated. “But most of the time as stated by the department, Kiphire buses break down either from the half way or from the station as the buses were in worst condition and outdated.” The CWS also broached another issue: ‘Shortage of passengers.’ Regarding the contention about shortage of passengers, the organisation ‘clarified’ that because the NST service is ‘very irregular,’ travellers and commuters are “uncertain for the service and therefore citizens opt for Dimapur services even if they are to go for Kohima and so there might be short of passengers sometimes.” However, the organisation reminded that the NST service being a public transport service, the government should provide regular and daily service irrespective of the number of travellers, either ‘full passengers or half passengers.’ Also, the CWS clarified that it had inadvertently stated ‘Tuensang to Kohima.’ It should be read ‘from Kiphire to Tuensang,’ the group stated. ‘The Citizens Welfare Society therefore, once again appeals to the authority in concern and the government to provide new NST (services) for the citizens of Kiphire at the earliest,’ the updates added.