Staff Reporter | ENM
Dimapur, July 28
The proposed 250 km Foothill road will not only reduce travel distance by 30 kms it will also save the state of draining its economy into Assam.
A staggering Rs 2.5 crore is the estimated daily average that is being spent by imports from Assam transported via the Mariani-Amguri sector to reach the markets of northern and eastern districts of the State.These figures were arrived at jointly by the truckers “Union and Traders Association” of Mokokchung after studying the impact of the recent 20 day bandh from 24th May to 13th June 2013.The first blockade was enforced by the All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association and the second from the 28th of June to till 13th June by the Ao Senden after skirmishes along the Assam Nagaland border following the death of a labourer at Naginijan Tea Estate near Mariani in Assam.
As per a survey conducted by the Nagaland Foot Hill Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC), the approximate distance between Dimapur to Tizit within Nagaland sector has been estimated at 250 km as compared to Mariani-Amguri road in the Assam sector measuring 280 km.
In a telephonic conversation with this reporter, the convernor of the Nagaland Foot Hill Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC) the president of Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) Supu Jamir said the foothill road once completed will help usher in a new economy for those along the route of the road and reduce the vulnerability of commuters and transporters affected by bandhs and road blockades in Assam.
An estimated 2000 people from Nagaland with over hundred vehicles including passenger buses, private owned cars and trucks ply along the road in Assam the sector on daily basis. If the aforesaid amount of over Rs 2.5 crores is circulated within Nagaland, the NHRCC opine that people could expect an economic boom ushering in prosperity.
The proposed foothill road will also be the shortest alignment beginning from Dimaput till Tizit in Mon. It will serve to connect the five northern and eastern districts namely Mokokchung, Wokha, Tuensang, Longleng and Mon from within the state.
The construction of foothill road is likely to take off in October next following an assurance from the State chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, and officials from the Department of Road and Bridges which was earmarked at Rs 40 crores during a meeting held earlier on the 17th of July.
