Source: NEPS / Oken Jeet Sandham *
Kohima, January 04 2008:
NPCC president KV Pusa stressed the importance of having ring-road connecting the entire districts headquarters of the state in order to boost the economic development of the state.
"We are really concerned for the economic development of the state but not the one on piecemeal basis initiated by the present DAN government," he told NEPS here on Sunday.
Asked about the funding of such development, the Congress leader quoted state chief minister Neiphiu Rio as saying there was no dearth of fund for the development in the state.
What he (Rio) said was his officers in various departments did not prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPR) .
He also lamented on seeing the development in 2008 as it came to a standstill, despite the Center's pouring in huge funds.
"What they (DAN) keep saying is what they said in their last tenure," he pointed out.
NPCC president KV Pusa expressed his serious concern on the increasing pathetic traffic congestion in the state capital.
Stressing the urgency to solve the capital traffic problem, the NPCC president urged the state government to come up with clear "blue print" for the development of the state capital.
They should appoint "experts committee" for easing out the "traffic problem" in Kohima town.
"We always keep talking about the traffic problem in the state capital," he stated.
"What we need is a political will, as where there is a will, there will certainly a way" .
Pusa said there was "4-lane provision" for the existing National Highway 39."I am told that the Center has already sanctioned for it," he stated saying, the state government should immediately expedite it.
The existing NH road should be widened and wherever necessary, the compensation should be paid for to the landowner and house owner.
The parking facilities should also be provided by constructing underground and multi-storied buildings.
The NPCC chief also said an idea of constructing a new bypass road was mooted when he was minister in the erstwhile Congress ministry to specifically ease out heavy traffic congestion in the state capital.
It is to divert from Peducha on NH 39 and come out in Southern Angami area touching the NH 39 again.
"Once it is done, it will ease out the traffic congestion in the state capital to a large extent," he pointed out.
Because it would not touch the capital road areas, he added.
* The writer can be contacted at oken_jeet(at)yahoo(dot)com .