Urban Development Department responds to OKM’s road repair ultimatum

As the 15-day ultimatum issued by the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM) expires on April 8, the Urban Development Department, Nagaland, has officially responded to OKM’s appeal for urgent repairs to the Rotary Junction–IOC Road in Mokokchung.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Development Department, Director Solesul Tholre stated that the department had received an application (No: OKM/Gen.secy/info/2025-07, dated March 24, 2025) from OKM, highlighting the “urgent need for critical repairs to the Rotary Junction to IOC Road in Mokokchung, along with an immediate response within 15 days.”

The Director informed that the proposed roadwork “has been included in the list of Project under Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) 2024–25 – Part-1 (Untied Natural Disaster),” as per Administrative Approval letter No: UDD/17-SSAS/02-C1/2022.

The matter has been forwarded for the Commissioner and Secretary’s “kind information and further necessary action,” the letter added. However, no official timeline has yet been provided for the commencement of repair work under the project.

Talking to MT, OKM officials said that a meeting with the department will be scheduled soon to discuss the matter further.

OKM had earlier, in a letter dated March 24, 2025, addressed to the Principal Director of the Department of Urban Development, demanded an “immediate response within 15 days” regarding the critical repairs of the Rotary Junction to IOC Road, commonly referred to as the New Market stretch road, in Mokokchung town.

AKM extends full support to OKM’s demand
The Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) has extended its full support to the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference’s (OKM) demand for the construction of the road between Rotary Junction, Mokokchung, and the IOC intersection point.

In a statement issued on Monday, the AKM said it “fully supports the demand (Ref.No: OKM/Gen.Secy/Info/2025-07) put forwarded by Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM)” and “stands in solidarity with the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference (OKM).”

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, AKM pointed out that “the deplorable road condition hampers the smooth movement of vehicles as well as is a primary cause of accidents while trying to avert the potholes in the middle of the road.” The student body further reminded that the stretch of road was “temporarily patched in September 2024 under the initiatives by the Ongpangkong Students’ Conference,” but despite this, it has been “neglected for years,” even though it serves as “a key artery connecting highly congested areas before merging with NH-702D at the IOC intersection.”

“Good roads are a basic right of every citizen and directly impacts the quality of life,” AKM asserted, adding that the department and the government must be reminded of their “responsibility to ensure well-constructed and maintained roads.”

The Ao Students’ Conference has, therefore, “earnestly appeal[ed] the concerned department in Kohima to kindly look into this matter at the earliest by allocating special sanction for repair before the arrival of monsoon season.”

MT