Kohima: The Assam based Hills Area Truck Owners’ Association (HATOA) which had been observing a chakka jam since October 17, on Sunday reiterated that they would not drive up the hills of Nagaland so long as the road condition in the area was not improved.
According to sources, the Mokokchung-Mariani border road, Nagaland’s second busiest highway, had been abandoned by HATOA since October 17 last following bad condition of the road.
The road, maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), is the life-line of Nagaland’s Mokokchung, Tuensang and Zunheboto districts as well as parts of Longleng and Wokha districts.
However, the district administration of Mokokchung had requested the BRO to repair the road at the earliest.
The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) vice-president informed that he supported the HATOA and said the BRO must disclose the budget allocation received for maintaining the road.
He said the BRO had since 2009 neglected the road and added the HATAO members had been trying to meet the Commanding Officer of BRO but he ignored them. The BRO must not only repair the sinking areas and clear the landslides but the whole stretch of the road must be repaired, he said, adding, ”It is a road under the Defense Ministry. It should be at its best.” (UNI)