Mokokchung’s roads tell a familiar and frustrating story. In mid 2022, several youth organizations raised their voices over the deplorable condition of the IMDH Road, a key stretch from Police Point to Sevak Gate. After sustained public pressure, the government sanctioned funds and the road was repaired by the end of that year. Yet, within a short span, the surface has begun to deteriorate again, with potholes reappearing.
A similar pattern is visible elsewhere. The main road from Sevak Gate to DEF along NH2 was repaired in 2023 and later addressed again recently under the Defect Liability Period. Even then, the road has failed to hold. How the roads have deteriorated in such a short span of time is there for everybody to see.
Such recurring failures raise serious questions. Why do roads in Nagaland struggle to last even a year? Is it poor engineering, substandard materials, weak oversight, or something more systemic? Why is there no mechanism to ensure timely repairs at the first sign of damage? These are not technical questions alone but matters of accountability.
In early 2026, the stretch from Rotary Junction to IOC Junction was repaired and remains in good condition for now. Whether it survives the coming monsoon remains to be seen.
As noted in this column before, the issue cannot be placed entirely at the doorstep of government authorities and contractors. Public infrastructure reflects public standards. When poor work is tolerated, when questions are not asked, and when misuse of funds goes unchecked, decline becomes inevitable.
Mokokchung’s poor roads are not just about incompetent engineers or inept contractors. They point to a broader civic challenge. Unless citizens demand quality, insist on accountability, and refuse to accept mediocrity, the cycle will continue. Better roads will require not just improved execution, but a stronger collective will to expect and enforce higher standards.
