GUWAHATI: The Nagaland government has mandated the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to make the four-lane Dimapur-Kohima Road fully operational prior to the inauguration of the much-anticipated Hornbill Festival in December.
In a virtual conference from New Delhi on Wednesday, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio communicated his directives during a session with various line and sectoral departments. This assembly was specifically arranged to discuss the preparatory status and blueprint for the forthcoming Hornbill Festival, 2023.
The chief minister didn’t shy away from expressing his dissatisfaction over the extended delay of the four-lane road project, which has been pending completion for the past seven years. Adding to the urgency, Rio appealed to the department of road & bridges to expedite the repair processes and upkeep of thoroughfares in the vicinity of Naga Heritage Village, Kisama.
“We’ve built the Hornbill brand for 24yrs. It is globally recognised & one of our famous Intellectual Properties in which every Naga citizen has a stake,” he wrote on a micro-blogging website, stressing on the significance of the festival.
Recognising the profound influence of social media, Rio accentuated the need for robust online coverage of the event, portraying the true essence of Nagaland and its inhabitants.
Temjen Imna Along, the Minister of Tourism & Higher Education, assured that the respective departments are poised and well-prepared for hosting the Hornbill Festival 2023. “Three consultative interactions with the concerned departments and stakeholders have already been conducted to assess our readiness,” said Along.
J Alam, State Chief Secretary, voiced his enthusiasm for the event, urging participation from all tribes, emphasising its significance as a unified state-wide celebration.
The meeting also saw inputs from Abu Metha, Advisor to the chief minister and chairman of IDAN, and Kitto Zhimomi, the commissioner & secretary of tourism, as they deliberated on various facets of the ongoing preparations for the iconic Hornbill Festival 2023.
