Wretched IT Road impoverishes productivity rich Twilang area
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Kangpoki, July 24 2014: Forget about Asian Highway, National Highway, State Highway or many other important roads in the State, the 66 km long Imphal-Tamenglong road stated to be one of the oldest roads connecting Imphal and Tamenglong via Kangpokpi, which is passing through the illustrious and agriculture productivity rich Twilang Area is still lying without government any concern for the klast many years.

The road which passes through many tribal villages in the hilly Twilang Area dominated mainly by Kuki, Nagas and Nepalis is in a wretched condition, even if it is the only means of transport for the people living in the area.

With the onset of the monsoon, the Imphal-Tamenglong road scores a miserable stature with dug up, slippery and muddy road leaving the commuters exhausted.

Wretched IT Road

Enraged Chongpi, a passenger, said that the rollercoaster ride along this pathetic road in any passenger vehicle available automatically makes one feels in hell and he or she would need a good traditional massage on reaching home.

Interestingly, Imphal-Tamenglong Road is passing through four different constituencies viz.

Kangpokpi, Saitu-Gamphajol, Tadubi and Tamenglong with more than 80 villages dominated by various communities.

Paogin Kipgen, a hysterical passenger vehicle driver, said that, "any inescapable accident could happen within a blink of an eye which can caused untold suffering to many innocent commuters along this muddy, slippery road" .

Covered with mud from head to toe, Nabin, a class IV student of Thonglang Akutpa UJB School, among many other students returning home from school, said "We went to school neat and clean in the morning but on the way we are totally muddy since no other road is available for us to reach our school" .

Another student added that "not knowing the miserable hardship we faced our teachers and parents scold and even we beat us because of this muddy road which eventually gives us the idea of avoid schooling during monsoon season." "We do not like to attend school like this", another student added.

In the meantime, I.T.Road Transport Welfare Association and Twilang Area Kuki Chief Association has voiced their concerns over the sorry road and drawn the attention of the concerned authority.

.PDavid Kipgen, Secretary of the transport association, said that following numerous complaints over the deplorable condition of the road from drivers and passengers, the association conducted a spot inquiry and found that the road has indeed become a threat to the commuters and motorists.

He also pointed out that though the section of the road from Kangpokpi to Chawangkining has been black topped, the stretch from Chawangkining to Thonglang Akutpa which is under the jurisdiction of one contractor identified as Ibungo is totally out of order.

Chairman of the transport association Khupthang, while warning the Govt.and the concerned authority to bear responsibility for any untoward incident happen to the commuters and motorists due to the deplorable road, alleged the Govt.and concerned authority for remaining unconcerned to the growing misery of the public due to the bad road.

Meanwhile Sehkho Kipgen, Secretary of Twilang Area Kuki Chief Association has highlighted the public grievances due to the pitiable road condition during monsoon season.

The association chief further sought immediate intervention of the Govt.and concerned authority to chalk out effective measures to redress the grievances of the people.

Though the area produces a good number of agricultural products sought in most part of the state, the economic condition of the people living in the area has not improved due to poor condition of the road, Sehkho Kipgen added.

It may be noted here most of the villages including Thonglang, Irang Nepali Basti, T.Waichong, Kotlen, Selsi, Gelnal, Chalwa, Chawangkining, Makui, Tamei, etc.

in Twilang Area have been engaged in potato farming.

This is one of the main sources of livelihood of the people for the last many decades.

A visibly thin black topped portion of the road developed countless potholes within a short span of time after the work has been finished, pointed out a resident of Songpekjang Nepali Basti, and mockingly added 'this shows engineering quality of the road construction work' .