In response to the worsening road conditions, truck owners from Mokokchung, Zunheboto, Tuensang, and neighboring areas have collectively decided to suspend their operations effective Monday, July 28, 2024. This decision means that commercial trucks will no longer ply from Mariani, Amguri, and Jorhat to Mokokchung and beyond for an indefinite period.
The resolution comes after numerous complaints about the terrible state of the roads went unaddressed, leading to increased vehicle damage and rising maintenance costs. A member of the truck owners’ association, speaking to MT, clarified that this is not a “bandh” but a collective decision to stop operations for an indefinite period.
“We are not going to call this a bandh. We have just come together and have resolved that we are going to stop plying for an indefinite period of time,” the association member explained. “We are going to stop plying from Mariani, Amguri as well as Jorhat. It is not only Mokokchung’s trucks but also those from Zunheboto, Tuensang, and Longleng.”
The member further detailed the issues, highlighting the slow progress of road repair works despite tenders being issued.
“We have been asking our administration to repair the road at least by paving stones and boulders. We are not asking for black topping, but we realized that it is either going very slow sometimes with very little manpower. We have experienced capsizing of the trucks and the maintenance costs sometimes are more than the hire rate,” he lamented.
Despite the numerous appeals and pressures on the authorities, there have been no substantive improvements on the condition of the road. “We have voiced our concerns on multiple occasions; we have pressured them enough but there doesn’t seem to be any positive impact. So, the truck owners have come together and have decided that we will stop plying for a while,” the member stated.
The truck owners assured that there is sufficient stocks in the market and has coordinated with the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) to ensure that the prices of goods remain stable during this period.
The indefinite halt in truck operations highlights the critical need for urgent road repairs to prevent further disruptions and economic repercussions across this part of Nagaland.