Fingers have been, once again, pointed at the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the implementing agency of the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane road project, with civil society organisations accusing it of not taking adequate safety measures between the Chathe River bridge and Jharnapani (New Chümoukedima) despite the tragic rockslide that killed two people and injured three others earlier this month. Citing the inconveniences caused to travelers and unsatisfactory action taken so far, people are demanding the authorities to reopen the stretch of road for traffic, undermining the risk of such a move. Surprisingly, the Chümoukedima district administration had announced partial opening of the affected stretch of the National Highway 29 for light passenger vehicles last week on the condition that the commuters sign an undertaking with the Traffic Police, declaring that they are aware of the risk involved and taking the route at their own risk. In the meantime, it advised the people to take the alternate route in view of safety measures being initiated along the affected areas. This ambiguity is puzzling. It simply goes on to tell that the authorities are either indifferent towards the safety of the commuters or realised that the contractors will take longer than expected to complete the safety works or travelers are putting undue pressure on the police to allow them to take the road despite the danger. But the decision of re-opening the affected road, be it partial or complete, should be taken only after receiving a green signal from experts familiar with such situations. Emotional decisions taken at public risk could prove costly.
The NHIDCL, which has come under scanner for ignoring the suggestions made by the Nagaland Pollution Control Board and Chümoukedima district administration prior to July 4 incident, should reassure the public by updating the safety measures being undertaken so far. Silence can cause distrust. It should also come out clean on the allegations leveled against it, take up corrective measures on a war footing and provide a tentative date for completion of work. In the meantime, the authorities should alleviate public inconveniences by consistently maintaining the alternate route via Chümoukedima-Shokhuvi-Medziphema. The citizens, on their part, should monitor the progress of work along the affected stretch as well as help identity sites along the National Highway 29 that could pose a threat to the public. Forcefully opening a hazardous road for traffic by undermining safety is not an option. Natural calamity is one thing, man-made disaster is quite another. The safety of commuters is paramount and the NHIDCL should take the responsibility of delivering that to the citizens.