The crumbling roads of Mokokchung town are more than just a civic inconvenience; they are a reflection of a deeper, systemic failure. When even the National Highways that pass through the town, such as NH-02 and NH-702D, are riddled with potholes and slush, what hope remains for the other roads? NH-02, last repaired only a few years ago, is already deteriorating, and with the arrival of the rainy season, the situation is bound to worsen. The condition of NH-702D, particularly the stretch from the IOC intersection to Sewak Gate, is in even worse shape.
This state of affairs raises urgent questions. Why are the roads in such pitiable condition? Who is accountable? And more importantly, why do we, the people, continue to tolerate it? The answer lies not only in government inefficiency or contractor negligence, but also in our own silence and apathy.
The condition of our roads is, in many ways, a metaphor for our collective mindset. Narrow roads, narrow vision. Poor conditions, poor civic consciousness. It is time for deep introspection, time to move beyond grumbling in private and start asking uncomfortable but necessary questions in public. The tolerance of corruption and inefficiency must be challenged. This is not merely a demand for better infrastructure; it is a call for a cultural shift.
Civil society must step forward. The intellectuals, the professionals, the moral voices of the community – everyone has a role to play. We need a collective ‘Good Roads Movement’, driven by activists, legal minds, engineers, and citizens with the courage to speak truth to power.
For years, we have normalized poor roads as part of life in Mokokchung. But this normalization is dangerous. It conditions future generations to accept mediocrity and passivity. We have become like caged monkeys, quietly accepting whatever little largesse is thrown our way by those in power, grateful for crumbs instead of demanding our rightful share. We cannot keep making excuses based on terrain or budget constraints while crores are wasted through substandard work and lack of oversight.
Yes, there are constraints. But so long as we resign ourselves to this condition, nothing will ever change. There are only two choices before us: continue to suffer in silence or rise together to demand what we rightfully deserve. The future of Mokokchung’s roads, and its civic spirit, depends on which path we choose.