| Correspondent |
PASIGHAT, Jul 22: While drawing the attention of East Siang Deputy Commissioner Dr Kinny Singh on the reported dilapidated portion of road stretching from Ruksin Gate to Pasighat township along national highway-515, the All East Siang District Border Students’ Union (AESDBSU) and All East Siang District Students’ Union (AESDSU) have urged for its early renovation, which they said is not only causing trouble to the daily commuters but also posses threat as regard to its strategic importance as military movements in case of emergency will also be adversely affected.
The students’ bodies said that the NH stretch from Ruksin to Pasighat has a major importance as it is the lifeline of eastern Arunachal Pradesh and especially Pasighat township, which is regarded as the economic and political capital of the Adi community.
They also cited the importance of the NH stretch for its use as military route and transportation of army troops and war machineries, as infrastructural development, especially road and transport in a state like Arunachal Pradesh “to counter the massive Chinese infrastructures along Arunachal borders can’t be ignored”.
The Unions also cited the example of the 409-Km toll free expressway at the other side of the border in Tibet, close to Arunachal border etc, but here on the Indian side in Arunachal Pradesh, we are struggling to maintain even the most strategic stretch of two lanes along NH-515 from Ruksin to Pasighat.
Further, they said that Pasighat, the headquarters of East Siang district, is scheduled to host a very prestigious event, the senior women's football championship from 10th to 30th September this year at the newly constructed stadium.
“Any road accident caused due to the potholes, broken stretch of road triggered by erosion like the one near Oyan bridge under Ruksin sub-division on the left bank of the river and sinkhole like occurrence at the entry gate of Rani village, which have been left unattended for over a year and seen numerous accidents in the past few days, etc, would malign the image of the district in particular and the state in general,” said the Orgs, in a letter to the DC.
Taking serous cognizance of the appeal, the DC has asked the executive engineer (highway) for its time-bound renovation.