VIJAYNAGAR, Apr 3: “ It’s like a dream for us, once upon a time we had to trek at least 5-6 days from Miao to reach Vijayanagar, but today we can reach here in a day,” says a native of Vijaynagar recalling the days of suffering not too long ago due to absence of road connectivity.
One of the remotest Administrative Circles of the state, Vijaynagar under Changlang district could only be reached on foot, or by air through the Advanced Landing Ground till March 2022 last. But now the 157 km long PMGSY road is almost motorable. In March 2021, Chief Minister Pema Khandu traveled up to Vijaynagar to see the road condition and also assured to make the road motorable by the end of March 2022. Governor BD Mishra also inspected the road to review the much-awaited road project in November 2021.
“The soil condition and terrain is completely different from the rest of the state. We had to put layers after layers of gravel and boulders to fill swampy areas and sinking zones. Experts say they need a couple of years to study the soil conditions. We have sent the samples but also continued our work so that people would get the connectivity,” says Contractor Kaushal Sharma who is working on the project up to Gandhigram.
Sharma who was at the project site informed that at least 135 vehicles and more than 300 men are pressed into action. A remote-operated stone crushing machine was also imported from Austria so that the road could be made motorable as soon as possible.
Though traveling doesn’t translate to a comfy ride even now but road condition from Miao to Gandhigaram is almost motorable(more than 100Km). While Gandhigram to Vijaynagar which is almost 20 km and part of Package 5 of the project is still not in good shape and needs more work to be done.
MLA Miao cum Minister UD, Kamlung Mossang informed that out of the 157km long road at least 100km road will be of gravel only as the stretch falls under Namdapha National Park and as per the DPR it has to be of gravel only. “The toughest zone falls within the Namdapha area, so even if the road gets completed we cannot assure how long it will last. So for all-weather roads, block topping is a must,” stated Mossang.
He also expressed concern about the maintenance of the road after completion. The terrain is very peculiar and tough, so it will be good if agencies like Border Roads Organization would be given the charge for its maintenance, as the road is also important from a strategic standpoint as it borders Myanmar, added the Minister.
Former ZPM of Vijaynagar, Yuafu Yobin is upbeat that with roads, more developments will come to the area. “After the visit of Chief Minister and Governor, the work took up pace. Though not a smooth drive yet but at least we don’t have to trek for at 5-6 days to reach Vijaynagar,” he adds.
The road has also opened up avenues for farmers of Vijaynagar to the nearest market in Miao. “Now we can reach Miao in a single day by driving four-wheelers, it’s like a dream,” said a local denizen with a vehicle laden with fresh green vegetables and cardamom from his farm to be sold in Miao market.
On March 24 last, two trucks laden with essential commodities reached Vijayanagar and Gandhigram that were flagged off by Kamlung Mossang at Miao on a trial to check the road conditions.
“Earlier a packet of salt costing Rupees 20 was sold here at Rupees 150. But now when a truck can reach Vijayanagar, we can expect that all essential items especially government supply items will be sold at affordable rates,” former ZPM Yuafu Yobin said.
The then Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh had laid the foundation of the Miao to Vijaynagar road under the Prime Minister’s Grameen Sadak Yojna (PMGSY ) in 2013.However, due to various reasons, the work could not be materialized on time.