Villagers reel under deplorable road
Source: The Sangai Express / Mungchan Zimik

Ukhrul, March 20 2025: Villagers of Ningthi are grappling with the deplorable condition of the PMGSY road which has been abandoned for more than six years by the department concerned and contractor, Headman, NS Shimray has alleged.

Accusing the authority of failing to take up any work to improve the inter village road, the Headman shared that the construction of the 16 km road stretch under PMGSY (package no MN-KMJO901 (A) MN09152 phase XI) from Sampui to Ningthi village was undertaken in 2018 .

While the construction was supposed to be completed in 2020, the initial routine maintenance period of five years will end in April, 2025 .

Villagers reel under deplorable road

However, the road continues to remain in a pathetic state as nothing has been done by the contractor to develop the road causing the villagers to face immense hardship for many years, said NS Shimray.

While blacktopping of the road was set to be done in 2020, Water Bound Macadam (WBM) mix has been laid on some portion of the road without any drainage facility.

Additionally, the breast and retaining wall are yet to be constructed though one "sub-standard" culvert was built.

Shining a light on the hardships faced by the villagers due to the pathetic PMGSY road during the rainy season, NS Shimray said that in 2024 when a landslide occurred in Chewna area, villagers were compelled to carry a sick woman, Helena, by foot for 8 kms to the nearest hospital at Kamjong as the contractor failed to clear the landslide debris.

During the monsoon season, the villagers face immense hardships and inconveniences in transporting NFSA rice.

In turn, due to connectivity issues, the prices of essential commodities such as sugar, rice, salt etc have skyrocketed in the village, rued the Headman.

The monsoon season brings debris and mud that clog the road making it almost impossible for vehicles to ply freely.

Most of the time, people/passengers resort to pulling or pushing their vehicles to overcome obstacles on the road.

As a major fallout of these transportation problems, the seasonal agricultural and horticultural items produced in the village cannot be transported for sale in other markets/regions causing a huge economic loss to the poor farmers.

According to Shimray, the taxi fare from Ningthi to Kamjong town is Rs 120 though the distance is only 18 km and driving takes one hour or more due to bumpy and poor condition of the road.

The Headman further highlighted that Ningthi PMGSY road is a life line for the villagers.

It is the shortest route connecting District Headquarters Kamjong to Block Headquarters, Phungyar.

The IVR also connects Hangkaw and Apong with the District Headquarters, Kamjong.

Despite having approached the District Administrator during the "Go to Hills" programme multiple times, there has been no positive result.

The situation has left the Ningthi villagers in despair.

They have appealed for immediate intervention from the State Government and urged the relevant authority to conduct spot inquiry/inspection of the Ningthi PMGSY road.

Further, they have demanded the contractor to comply with PMGSY guidelines and construct the road as per the estimate and work order.