Ao Senden seeks realignment of National Highway 702 (D)

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, March 21 (EMN): Ao Senden requested the chief minister of Nagaland to consider and intervene in the proposed realignment and construction of National Highway 702 (D).

In a letter to the chief minister appended by Ao Senden President Chubawati Longchar and secretary Imtipokyim on Monday, Ao Senden stated that Mariani-Mokokchung Road (NH-702D) is the second busiest highway in Nagaland after Kohima-Dimapur road (NH-29).

Ao Senden stated that it had learnt from ‘reliable source’ that the PWD (National Highways)has prepared “five options for realignment of the said Highway at 66.00 Km Chungtiayimsen to Longjongkong (New Camp) on chainage 30.00 Km, which presently measures a length of 36 Km.”

In this regard, the Ao Senden asserted that National Highways connecting major cities from point to point and feeder roads to other locations such as villages etc. from such highways were different in nature.

‘Modern national highways and feeder roads therefore need to be taken under separate approaches in concept and implementation,’ it said.

For economic efficiency and ease of trade and commerce, the Ao Senden stated that major highways and national highways are aligned and constructed through the shortest possible distance between two points, at times even avoiding major towns and human habitation to reduce congestion and traffic jams.

In the case of Mokokchung district, and Nagaland in general, the Ao Senden observed that during the past decades, each road was generally in the category of “feeder roads” where every habitation or village wished to be connected.

However, Ao Senden viewed that  with  the  new  2-lane  National  Highways  now,  “we  need  a  paradigm  shift towards the modern approach of speed and efficiency and the villages and other habitations should be connected through a good network of feeder roads, to and from the National Highways.”

In this connection, the Ao Senden opined that the existing highway had long detours, and cannot be widened to 2-lane in several locations due to steep gradient etc; it said that it should  be  realigned  as  per  option  –  IV  (Watiyim-­‐ Longjemdang-­‐Mangkolemba-­‐Khar-­‐Longjongkong)  Survey  Report  recommended by PWD (NH) to the state government.

Ao Senden opined that the shortest possible distance would be the most efficient, besides, Survey  Report  recommended by PWD (NH) to the State Government , Option – IV reduce the existing 85 km by at least 10 km.

“The option meets the standard and specifications of National Highways and the above will also meet the criteria of the shortest route, most economical and efficient of National Highways plus existing feeder roads to adjoining townships and villages be adequately maintained,” it read.