Chumoukedima rockslide fallout: Taxi drivers suffer amid route diversion

By Sarah Konyak

In the aftermath of the rockslide that occurred at the Chümoukedima stretch of the NH 29 on July 4, claiming two lives and severely injuring three others, hundreds of taxi drivers were left stranded at ISBT Kohima after a diversionary route from 7th Mile Chümoukedima Junction-Sukhovi-Pimla-Mhainamtsi-Punglwa-Jharnapani-Medziphema was opened for the taxis to ply amid safety concerns.

The new arrangement proposed by the Dimapur Police has been put in place in view of public safety concerns along the NH-29 stretch and as further rockslides and landslides could not be ruled out due to the incessant rainfall.

The drivers claimed that some private vehicles and NST buses are being allowed to ply on the NH 29 stretch, whereas taxis are being diverted to the alternative route.

The drivers questioned as to why the order from the government for the closure of the road is not being implemented in all sections.

The drivers said that as daily wage earners, they are at a huge loss as many passengers are opting for NST buses since they are allowed to ply along the NH 29 stretch and also due to the low fare.

One of the Taxi drivers sharing the difficulties faced by them told Northeast Live, “I came on Saturday and I am still here. Earlier there were only 2-3 NST buses but now the government has issued 7 buses so, we are finding it really hard .Taxis are considered unsafe for travelling unless we have an emergency we are not allow to ply from highway. The highway must be open for all until and unless it is under construction. So, I request the authorities to make it open for all if it is open and close for all if it is close.”

The drivers requested the state government either implement the order for all vehicles or open the road for all.

“All bus drivers and taxi drivers are contributing equal service to the people, so it is not fair for the government to allow the bus and restrict the taxis. We request the government make it Open for all or close for all,” another taxi driver said.

Taxi drivers are now charging Rs. 600 per passenger as the alternative route is in deplorable condition and it takes 4-5 hours to reach Dimapur.

Drivers also claimed that they don’t have money to feed themselves and are eating at hotels on debt.

Requesting the government to open the highway for all, an official of the All Nagaland Taxi Association said, “We want to make a request to the government for the blockade of road as most of the taxi drivers are daily wage earners who make earnings by day and it is difficult for them to afford even food if they don’t run or skip a day but most of the taxi drivers have complained about the passage as taxis are not allowed to pass through the highway while NST buses are getting free movement. Taxi taking Phimla, sukhovi passage is making it difficult and hard not only for the drivers but even the passengers as taxi charges need to be raised and to add on that the road condition is also not good.”

“If highway is not safe for taxis it is neither safe for the NTS buses. So, we want to request the government to make it open for all. Infact, NST carries more passengers than taxis putting risk to more lives. So, we request the government to make the highway open for all if it is open for the NST buses.”

The official further said that passengers are not opting for taxi services amid the increase in fare as it takes to reach the destination as we have to take other passages and not the highway.

Also Read: Massive rockslide smashes car, kills 2 in Nagaland’s Chumoukedima