KANGPOKPI, October 24: Believe it or not! the popular Trans Asian Highway No.1 or commonly known as National Highway No 2 passing through the illustrious and agriculture productivity rich Sadar Hills has become a brazen witness to countless ghastly potholes and bear a resemblance to the century old village roads.
Big in name, famous as lifeline of the State and worrisome as well in crossing, the Trans Asian Highway No.1 gained another popularity in lodging incalculable potholes which has adversely become a hazard to 10 and 100s commuters from various other States and the locals alike.
The Trans Asian Highway No.1 presents the perfect sorry pictures of untold misery of the road users as well as laissez-faire attitude of the State government and its concerned departments and contractors.
Forget about other places where the highways is passing through, the hazardous 40 km stretch between Taphou Kuki and Gamgiphai in Sadar Hills, gives a psychosomatic disorder with the ad infinitum potholes.
The stretch between Kangpokpi and Yaikongpao via Daili village has innumerable potholes rendering commuters enough hardships while similar dismayed picture is detected along another stretch between Kalapahar and Bongmoul village via Keithelmanbi (Champhai).
Worse situation is experienced between the stretch of Leikop and Koubru Leikha via Bimparao with oversize potholes enough to keel over heavy loaded vehicles.
While the Sapromeina to Hengjang village segment bears horrific deep hole in close environs, N. Songlung, Mongpijang, and Motbung are the worse rundown.
A continual problem every season, there seems to be no exception this winter too though some potholes in few segments of the road in Kangpokpi area have been patched up recently but culminated the work within a short span of time allegedly due to shortage of funding.
However, a reliable source said that the pothole mending activities is being carried out in the Sekmai stretch.
Vehemently enraged resident of Sapormeina said that a rollercoaster ride at this pathetic road takes you to hell like situation followed by a good traditional massage on reaching home while adding that the highway has become an intolerable experience for young and old citizens.
One driver narrated that I have to visit workshop at least twice a week for repairing my vehicle and expend at least Rs.2000/3000 in minimum due to the bad condition of the highway, which extremely have an effect on my meager earning.
Another resident of Motbung Village lamented the negligence of the State government and concerned department over the deplorable road condition of the highway rendered frequent road accident even in bazaar area of Motbung, which is becoming a big threat for the people.
One teacher at Keithelmanbi also said that the pitiable condition of the highway and the dreaded potholes has not only caused unutterable anguish to road users but also affected school going children and ailing persons in particular, and the public in one way or the other.
Another Kangpokpi resident complain that more than 100 loaded vehicles and oil tankers has been basically passing the highway apart from the inter-State and State passengers and private vehicles but the State government and concerned department shut an eye on essentiality of the Trans Asian Highway.
A CSO leader also alleged that it is obvious to the public that concerned department is not taking up any prompt action to mend the potholes when they were undersized while it would not be a financial burden to the concerned departments.
A visibly irked resident of Kangpokpi allegedly said that collusion between corrupt officials and contractors as well as the apathetic attitude of the State government is the major factor for such disgraceful road condition.
`Yet no action is ever taken against the guilty`, he asserted before adding that in case of deaths or injuries caused by the bad road the state Government will be held responsible.
Meanwhile, enraged with the never-ending deplorable road condition and the episodic wealthy potholes of the Trans Asian Highway No.1 local residents including various civil society organizations within Sadar Hills warns of intense agitation if the present condition of the road is not satisfactorily repaired within a week.