With the arrival of the monsoon season, the dilapidated condition of National Highway 702D has become a cause for concern, prompting several village councils, including Changki, Japu, Satsukba, Chungliyimsen and Merayimti with moral support from the All Ward Chairman Association Mangkolemba, Mariani-Mokokchung Roadside Villager’s Forum and others, to stage a protest on 30 June. The villagers have expressed their frustration over the lack of road repairs and the numerous accidents that have occurred due to the deplorable state of the road.
The Chairman of Changki Village, speaking on behalf of the protesting organizations, told Mokokchung Times that the road has not received proper maintenance for a considerable period, apart from the placement of boulders a few years ago. He emphasized that a high number of accidents involving trucks and vehicles have been caused by the dilapidated conditions of the road.
It may be noted that this is not the first time NH 702D has sparked public outrage. On 7 September 2022, more than 50 truck and pickup drivers initiated an indefinite strike, refusing to use the Mariani road or NH 702D to enter Nagaland. Their protest aimed to draw attention to the deteriorating road conditions.
Despite the strike, the Changki Village Chairman claimed that no repairs have been undertaken since then, starting from New Camp to Mariani. According to him, the villagers have met with the contractors responsible for the road, who assured them they would address the issue. “However, there has been no visible progress towards repairing the road thus far,” the chairman added.
Faced with the continued neglect of NH 702D, the village councils and various concerned organizations have resolved to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Mokokchung. They said that they will demand the repair activities commence within the next 15 days failing which they said they shall resort to road blockage.
The Chairman informed that a delegation will visit the DC’s office, aiming to deliver the memorandum either on Monday or Tuesday. He also said that they had made an appeal to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to look into the matter as the Chairman of North East Development Agency (NEDA).
National Highway 702D holds immense significance as Nagaland’s second busiest highway, serving as a lifeline for approximately five districts, including Mokokchung, Zunheboto, and Tuensang. The current state of disrepair not only hampers transportation but also poses a severe threat to the safety and well-being of commuters and residents in the region.