Road maintenance biggest challenge for R&B: Vikheho

Kohima, March 24 (EMN): Participating during debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address, minister in-charge for Roads & Bridges, Vikheho Swu said one of the most challenging issues faced by the department is the repair and maintenance of existing roads in the State, for which, a minimum of Rs 300 crore is required annually.

“Development of roads and its maintenance will continue to be a challenge given the paucity of the State financial position. While we are thankful to the central government for taking up new roads under the fold of National Highways, E&I, CRF, ISC, the maintenance of the old roads will still continue to be a challenge,” Swu lamented. Towards this, he suggested making use of available resources to meet repair and maintenance costs of existing roads.

He also suggested utilising the 2017-2018 NLCPR allocation for the State to repair and develop all 11 districts and ADC headquarter roads instead of proposing new roads.

Starting from next year, he suggested that for the next five year plan (2018-2023), the State government could utilise one year of road development programme to repair and develop old roads which is permissible under ministry of road transport.

“Most of the roads in the State are constructed under central funding such as ISC, E&I, CRF, NEC and in all this development programme, repair and strengthening of road after some years is permitted. He observed that if the State is able to do this, a lot of positive changes would occur in the minds of the people.

“Good road connectivity will also boost our economy drastically as well as attract investors from outside the states. It will also enhance the aesthetic environment and beauty of the State as a whole,” he asserted.

He further emphasised that R&B department develops road, but the revenue collection was done by the department of Transport. In this connection, the minister suggested that apart from the normal Non Plan allocation given to the department, Road Tax, Revenue and Vehicle tax , be given back to the department of R&B. This would ease a lot of problem, he viewed.