Phesama Landslide: SAYO Reviews Restoration, Pushes for Quick Road Reopening
SAYO reviews Phesama landslide restoration work in Nagaland. 80% work complete, but students and commuters still face hardships.
The Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO), accompanied by the presidents and secretaries of its federating units, conducted a site inspection at the landslide-affected area in Phesama on Tuesday. The visit aimed to review the progress of the restoration works currently being executed by contractors to restore connectivity in the region.
80 Per Cent Work Completed
Following the inspection, SAYO President Zasitsolie Beio expressed satisfaction with the pace of the repairs. He noted that approximately 80 per cent of the restoration work has already been finished. While he acknowledged that critical finishing touches, including blacktopping, are still pending, Beio voiced optimism that the road would be reopened to the public shortly.
Commuters and Students Face Hardships
Despite the progress, the closure of the main route has created significant challenges for the local population. Beio highlighted that Phesama is a vital exit route from Kisama, and its closure has caused considerable distress to villagers and students. He specifically urged the district administration to acknowledge these hardships, noting that school and college students are currently preparing for their final examinations and cannot afford further delays.
The reliance on a temporary alternate route has only added to the frustration of local residents and daily commuters, who have found the detour inconvenient and inefficient.
Deteriorating Alternate Routes
Adding to the concerns, Ketouneio Zashumo of the Phesama Youth Organisation pointed out the poor state of the alternate path. Zashumo revealed that the condition of the detour has deteriorated to the point where even light and small vehicles are struggling to navigate it.
This bottleneck has led to severe traffic congestion during morning rush hours, directly impacting office-goers and students, often resulting in them reaching their destinations late. Consequently, Zashumo called upon the contractors and road maintenance authorities to accelerate their efforts to make the primary route motorable as quickly as possible, hoping for a resolution by next week.
Contractor’s Commitment
During the site visit, contractor Ketouse Khamo acknowledged the significant difficulties the public has endured due to the landslide. He assured the inspecting team that every effort is being made to expedite the process.
Khamo stated that the soil-moving operations on his specific assigned stretch are expected to be completed by Monday. He further clarified that the adjacent section of the road is being managed by a separate contractor.
The Southern Angami Youth Organisation has concluded its visit with a strong call for the timely completion of all remaining works to ensure the smooth movement of vehicles and to end the ongoing inconvenience faced by the community.