Frustrated Kohima residents long for durable roads

KOHIMA — Kohima, despite being the state capital, is grappling with a persistent pothole problem, posing significant risks to pedestrians, motorists, and motorcyclists.

The situation is exacerbated by heavy rainfall, coupled with inadequate drainage systems, and the strain from overloaded vehicles. Most repair works offer only a temporary solution, highlighting the urgent need for long-term, quality road construction and maintenance.

Residents of Kohima shared their experiences with Eastern Mirror, expressing frustration at the state of the roads. Vihuka Assumi, a student at Don Bosco College, highlighted the problems faced by students, particularly during the monsoon season, due to dust, mud, and safety hazards caused by potholes.

Assumi also pointed out that the roads are “not up to the mark” and deteriorate rapidly despite repairs. “Even if the roads are being built, it is not of good quality. We can see that the road gets deteriorated very quickly”, he said.

The college student emphasised the need for the government to prioritise quality over quantity in road construction, to ensure the safety and well-being of students commuting to college.

Sharing similar concerns, a Kohima resident said that despite annual maintenance, the road remains in poor condition.

“How good it would be if quality roads were built instead of focusing on quantity,” he added.

The dissatisfied citizen emphasised that Kohima, as the state capital and a designated “smart city,” deserves high-quality infrastructure, particularly good roads. However, he expressed disappointment, observing that “state leaders and officials are raising their personal buildings instead of infrastructure.”

“During elections, leaders will make tall promises”, he continued, “but when elected to power, they keep quiet.”

Beyond Hornbill Festival

Commercial vehicle drivers, who spend more than eight hours on the road daily, stressed the need for durable roads that can withstand heavy use and last beyond Hornbill Festival.

One taxi driver compared the pre-festival road repairs to applying “lipstick” – a superficial fix that barely lasts a few weeks. The road condition in Kohima does not live up to the standards of the smart city tag, he added.

The taxi driver explained that poor road conditions take a toll on their vehicles, leading to frequent repairs. Most taxi drivers, who rely on daily earnings, face a difficult choice: shoulder the burden of repairing vehicles they do not own or risk losing their only source of income by refusing to drive on the damaged roads. “There’s no way out,” he lamented.

He urged the government to prioritise durable roads, especially with the Hornbill Festival approaching and tourists expected to arrive in Kohima.

Carrying sick passengers

Furthermore, the taxi driver emphasised the challenges they face, especially when transporting sick passengers. Pregnant women, he noted, are particularly affected by the bumpy rides, recounting an experience from the previous year when a pregnant passenger, overcome with labour pains, pleaded with him to stop the car mid-journey. “But how could I just leave her in the middle of the street”, he said, explaining that he managed to get her safely to the hospital.

He also shared another incident where he transported a passenger who had difficulty breathing, maintaining that in all these incidents, poor road conditions and traffic snarls added to their woes. Another driver, Meren, echoed these concerns, adding that he frequently receives complaints from passengers about the road conditions.

Raj, who has been driving taxis for 25 years, observed that the road condition in the state capital is worsening and appealed to the government to build quality roads not just in Kohima but across all districts.

Dilip Kumar, a 70-year-old driver from Manipur with over five decades of experience behind the wheel, shared his difficulties navigating Kohima’s potholed roads in his commercial pick-up truck. He expressed disappointment that despite being designated a “smart city,” Kohima lacks the essential feature of good roads.

“Smart city is just in name”, he said, pointing out that even to reach a destination that is five minutes away, “it takes us half an hour because we have to drive slowly on bad roads and if we don’t take care of the cars, it’s a loss for the owner and for us.”

He went on to say that in Nagaland, because the roads are generally not good, drivers need to drive within certain speed limits and be adept at navigating potholes.

Kumar, who has been driving since 1972, shared that he often advises young drivers to be aware of the road conditions and adjust their driving accordingly. Stating that a driver’s life can change in a split second, he stressed the importance of remaining vigilant and taking full responsibility behind the wheel.

Like any other driver, Kumar said he also longs for better roads, and expressed disappointment at the superficial “lipstick” road maintenance in the state capital.

“If I don’t take care of the vehicle I’m driving, it will cause loss to the owner and I will lose my income source,” he said.