DCCI flags poor roads, seeks urgent reforms

Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DCCI) has expressed concern over the deplorable condition of roads within Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC) jurisdiction, stating that the situation was severely hampering day-to-day business operations and causing immense inconvenience to the public.
In a press release, DCCI said as the commercial hub of Nagaland, Dimapur’s smooth road connectivity was essential for trade, transport and overall economic activities. However, despite regular collection of various taxes and fees by DMC such as parking fees, trade license fees, market tolls, sanitation charges, advertisement tax and commercial vehicle levies, there was no visible maintenance or improvement of road infrastructure, it lamented.
DCCI pointed out that the negligence of DMC in carrying out its basic responsibilities had impacted business efficiency, customer footfall and timely delivery of goods and services.
Citing provisions of the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2023, DCCI highlighted that Section 124 empowered the Municipal Council to levy taxes, Section 90 mandated use of municipal fund for obligatory civic duties and Section 61 listed maintenance of public roads as one such obligatory function.
Despite this statutory framework, it alleged there had been glaring failure by DMC in fulfilling its obligatory duty of road repair and maintenance, thereby violating the mandate of the Act.
DCCI said such continued disregard for road maintenance reflected poorly on the functioning of DMC.
It added that the lack of accountability in utilising funds collected from the public for essential civic works had created deep frustration among the trading community as well as citizens.
Further, DCCI reiterated that DMC needed to urgently reform its parking tax structure.
It pointed out that parking tax at New Market was Rs 20 per day, whereas in other areas of the city, the rate was Rs 20 for two hours.
A uniform and streamlined system, it said, would ease financial burden on citizens.
The chamber also requested the DMC CEO and chairman to utilise its regular and paid employees for day-to-day operations. DCCI said its grievances cell had received complaints of “syndicate system” re-emerging due to outsiders working in DMC’s designated workplace.
It said empowering regular employees would help address the issue, while pointing out that the State government had already abolished the lease system for municipal and town councils.