Nagaland govt asks BRO to hand over roads

Kohima, Sep 2 (UNI) Expressing disappointment over the poor maintenance of the National Highways (NH), including NH 39, the lifeline of Nagaland and Manipur, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has asked the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to hand over the road maintenance to the state government.

Addressing a press conference here last evening, Mr Rio said he was dissatisfied with the poor maintenance of the highways by the BRO authorities.

''If the BRO is unable to maintain the roads, they should hand them over to the state government,'' the Chief Minister said.

He pointed out the prevailing condition of roads under BRO, including the NH 39, and also the construction of the retaining wall of the road on the highway in Kohima town, which had collapsed several times and was yet to be completed.

''The BRO had not taken up the work during the dry season, and when they took up the work, the monsoon had already arrived,'' Mr Rio said.

He also informed that the state government was not getting sufficient funds for the maintenance of the state highways and other roads and demanded 100 per cent funding from the Centre for maintenance of roads in the state.

UNI AS DPM RL SSC1320