Khousabung Club for repair of Dr Kalam Road
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 16 2011:
While expressing strong resentment over the government's lack of attention and sincerity in developing far flung areas of the state, the Khousabung Youth Club has appealed to the state government as well as the Centre to repair the Dr Kalam Road which has become more like a mini highway by connecting Moirang and Khousabung-Bunglon with thousands of commuters using this route.
In a press release, Hemang Khongsai, President of the club stated that the 5 km long road has been in use for the last 75 years by the people of Khousabung, Bunglon and the surrounding areas.
"The road has been black-topped only once in 75 years, when the then President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam landed at Bunglon High School on October 16, 2006" it stated adding that "the people of the area has named the former Moirang-Bunglon road as 'Dr Kalam Road' as a befitting tribute to the former President" .
"During the last 5 years since 2006, no repairing work has been ever done by the government.
The people of the area have waited for long wishing for the road to be repaired and black-topped again, as was the case in 2006 with the impending visit of the first citizen of India" it added.
With scores of vehicles plying on the road each day, the road has become a dilapidated and bulky road possibility of major accidents looming large unless the road is left unattended for long.
The road has been the lifeline of the people of Thangjing area comprising about 50 villages with a population of about 35 thousands, the release stated further.
Frustrated with the inattentiveness of the government, the Khousabung Youth Club took the lead to repair the road themselves, without any assistance from the government.
"Since no government agency ever care for us, we decided to repair the road by ourselves" the press release quoted Hemang Khongsai, President of the Khousabung Youth Club saying.
"Due to the ugly condition of Dr Kalam Road, hundreds of commuters face untold misery while travelling on the road.
For students who were studying in Moirang, travelling on this bumpy-humpy road is like a hell.
For the poor village folks, who were going to Moirang bazaar for marketing, it's a nightmare for them.
For the traders, since Khousabung being the 'capital' of pineapple in the state, travelling on the road has been a devilish experience.
For the larger public, the bad road condition is a death-knell for progress and development of the area" it further stated.