Commencement or completion of any developmental undertaking in Arunachal Pradesh, irrespective of stature always makes news. And when it comes to Trans Arunachal Highway (TAH), it is something that people read and watch with great earnest. Saturday last has been such a day since the much delayed construction of the Potin-Pangin stretch of this dream assignment, which at times seemed to be an eternally lingering affair officially received the green signal. If the event in itself was something a big one, the most discernible takeaway must be the repeated reminders from all Ministers and people’s representatives present on the occasion that revolved around one distinctive clamour-no more delays and people’s participation all throughout. To mirror the ground realities they are really the needs of the hour and it’s high time to make use the lessons that TAH has been teaching the state since 2008.
It’s a matter of great disenchantment that just due to meaningful means of normal connectivity, real development has proved to be a mirage for Arunachal since many years and with the progress of time, this lament has culminated into frustration. There are constant concerns by people at seminars or discussion platforms that youths of the state are falling prey to drugs. But hardly there are efforts in seeking the contributing reasons thereto, which, among many others must be lack of meaningful means of economic engagements or employment that otherwise might have kept them distant from the vice. 
The TAH, which is almost a 2000 km thoroughfare connecting the north-western and the south-eastern tips of the state with countless arterial link-ups deep interior on both sides promised to play a stellar role in this regard by solving the connectivity problem to a great extent and consequently setting in motion the wheels of economic ecosystem. But, it has encountered so much rough weathers that, for the state’s common people, it’s nothing but a ‘ballad of scams’. There had also been occasional flashes of hopes when there were ‘assurances’ from the high profiles that it’s going to be completed in full within this or that timeline. Earlier it was 2015, then came 2018 and now, standing on the early days of 2020, no new deadline has arrived as yet. But, looking at the portions that have been completed, it is a real treat for eyes and shows that things are possible.
It can’t be denied that until total completion is attained, the futuristic developmental goals, in realisation of which the highway will play the catalytic role, will remain elusive. For infusing this much required urgency, a new deadline needs to be set which will act as a tool for all stakeholders to act as a coherent family in its attainment. At any cost, Arunachal must realise this big dream. 

 

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List