Minister blames Central fund pattern for Nagaland’s ugly roads

Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, MAY 3

The silence has finally broken. The minister for Road and Bridges V Vikheho Swu has said that the removal of the ‘special category status’ and consequently, the funding for Nagaland by the central government has ‘severely affected developmental activities’ in Nagaland.
Swu claimed that the ‘worst affected’ was the PWD (Roads and Bridges) department ‘as the central government had decreased the road maintenance fund of the state from Rs. 200 crore in 2014 to Rs. 40 crore last year and had provided the same amount even this year.’
The politician was interacting with media persons after inspecting roads under in Kohima town Tuesday morning. The minister also inspected works being undertaken by colony residents connecting the main town from Naga Bazaar to the Kieziekie-Pezielietsie-Rakabozou-Sepfezou (near Alder College) stretch.
Swu directed his engineers to undertake ‘proper survey of the entire stretch of road and bring out a feasibility report’ along with the requirement for bridges. Once completed, he said, the road would be an alternative to ease traffic congestion in the capital during peak hours. The team also inspected the possibility of opening a road connecting Kenouzou to the Billy Graham Road near Kohima College.
After that Swu inspected the Kohima Village circular road which was constructed with meager fund provided by department under the observation of Kohima Village Youth Organization. The minister also inspected the opening of a road from Midland to Lower PWD. Thereafter, he went through colonies such as AG-Lerie-Aradhura-New Ministers’ Hill-South Police Station.
“We have understood and taken note of the road condition with today’s inspection and it must be the same situation in other colonies too,” Swu explained. While requesting the general public to ‘understand the situation,’ Swu said that the department was ‘trying its level best to provide better roads to the citizens.’ He asserted that the department would repair and fill up potholes before this monsoon, especially in the major towns of the state, including Kohima and Dimapur. Further, Swu also stated that henceforth the department would ascertain that quality work is being executed so that those roads will not require repair for at least 3-4 years and the available funds can be put in other road projects.