Staff Reporter
Dimapur, July 23
The fifteen-day media campaign against bad roads, launched on July 8 by Finger Print, a designing and event management, saw a positive result with the assurance from state government to construct the deteriorating road along Dhobinala-Signal-Thahekhu stretch soon after 2015-16 budget session which ends on July 27.
The verbal confirmation was given by R&B Minister Y.Vikheho at his official residence in Kohima to the Finger Print officials. This was disclosed by the team to media persons at a press conference held at Skyview Restaurant Dimapur.
During a meeting, Principal Secretary and Finance Commissioner Temjen Toy was presented with 10,000 appeal letters signed by the residents of the affected areas. The series of Finger Print campaigns highlighted the ill effects of bad roads economically and health-wise through local media, flyers, and flex banners in and around Dimapur.
The Finger Print team launched the 15-day media campaign under the theme, “Sharing ideas for better future,” after finding facts and figures on the cost and time spent by every commuter. The survey carried out by the team says, due to bad road, approximately Rs.1, 20, 00,000 is spent annually for fuel and maintenance by 2000 vehicle owners. The estimates are based on the inputs provided by private vehicles, Autos, garages, tyre shop owners.
“Quality is crucial for road and this should not be overlooked while construction. The number and category of vehicles plying on a particular road should be taken into consideration for a road to be constructed. And consideration of long term maintenance of road is also vital”, opined the team.
The Finger Print team felt that government and people should work together bearing in mind that they have been elected by the people. Instead of fighting, all should work together sharing ideas for a better future.
“We are not against or for any particular government but we want the system to function through collective ideas hand in hand with the common people,” added the team.
“The overlap between PWD department and Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) contributed to the negligence of these areas” stated the team.
The only concern of the team after official confirmation by the government is the implementation of its ‘word of assurance’ and that they want the road to be there at the earliest.
The team urged the government to make sure that the road along these areas are extended from Dhobinala to Thahekhu, and from Signal-Thahekhu junction to Signal Angami village gate and construct in accordance with relevant standards and specifications considering the number of trucks plying on this road which is home to MARCOFED, Sub-Urban Police Station, ACP Office, Nagaland Pollution Control Board, FCI Depot, Indian Oil Depot, Army Supply Depot, schools and colleges.
