The prolonged negligence of Ukhrul-Jessami national highway 202, which is in a deplorable state, has greatly inconvenienced and angered the general public of the area with authorities still not paying attention to the genuine plight of the people.
The road has developed cracks and filled with potholes in several routes, making it a nightmare for daily commuters especially vehicles carrying patients for treatment.
Commenting on the NH 202 condition, Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL), president Somipam Wungrai stressed that due to ongoing conflict most of the trucks pass through National Highway 202 which was not prepared to bear more than 20 tons. The heavy trucks that pass through NH 202 have badly damaged the road, he said.
Maintaining that RKL have been approaching the NHIDCL time and again to maintain the road, he said the student body is ready to launch agitations if NHIDCL does not heed to their appeals.
Washington, a resident of the area who commutes on this lifeline for the last one decade said that the condition of the road had been so poor that it has become an extremely difficult pass. “It not only creates problems for the commuters but also equally causes massive damage to the engines,” he said.
Voicing his discontentment with the present condition of the road, Amayo T, a concerned youth of the area, stated that the road has become an accident prone highway due to its extremely pathetic condition.
“There are too many potholes along the road. Almost two years have gone but roads are yet to be repaired. Apathetic treatment by the authorities has caused the road users especially the residents of the area to face great inconveniences,” he said.
“The authorities concerned seem to have sidelined this genuine issue facing the people of the area. It is high time that the area MLA look into the matter with urgency for the greater good of the people,” he stressed.
Joining hands with the people of the area, one RS Kapangsing, who is also the former president of Raphei Katamnao Long (RKL) decried that this highway is no less different than far flung village road. A highway is not supposed to be maintained this way, he said.
“Safety and convenience of the people should be the top priority,” he stressed.
He further stated that fully loaded heavy trucks which pass regularly along the highway further compounded the problem. Therefore, this must be strictly checked, added.
Meanwhile, several people of the area have appealed to the authority concerned to promptly look into the grievances.
