76 after Independence, Arunachal’s Tali connected by road with state

By Yuvraj Mehta: Celebrations doubled for the Nyishi tribe in Arunachal Pradesh’s Taki constituency in Kradaadi district, which shares borders with China. Besides people celebrating Nyokum–a festival that is celebrated by the Nyishi community during this time of the year where they worship Goddess Nyokum for a good harvest coupled with prayers that their crops survive floods and droughts, people in Taki constituency have got another reason to rejoice.

Arunachal Pradesg Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the Kumey Bridge, which connects Yangte in Arunachal to Tali, and a new road going towards Tali, providing all-season connectivity to the remote constituency 76 years after Independence.

DEMAND FOR ROADS IN TALI CONSTITUENCY

Tali in Kradaadi district, bordering China, and Vijaynagar in Arunachal’s Changlang district bordering Myanmar, remained isolated for decades. Tali was the only remote constituency out of the 60 constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh which remained disconnected with the rest of the state due to lack of approach roads.

A road for Tali constituency was sanctioned in 2012 but it could not be completed due to poor implementation.

In September 2019, the 280ft single-lane Kumey Bridge over Kumey river collapsed due to landslides. This bridge was made at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crores.

The re-construction of the bridge started in November 2020 with a span of 90 metres. This steel-arch bridge over Kumey river was made with a cable suspender and RCC decking at an estimated cost of Rs 13 crores and 69 lakhs.

Residents of Tali raised the pitch for a proper road connecting to their constituency and challenged Chief Minister Pema Khandu to complete the road in a span of one year (February 2023).

CM INAUGURATES NEW ROAD

A year later, the Arunachal Chief Minister stood true to his promise and gifted the Kumey Bridge connecting Yangte with Tali village and a new road on the occasion of Nyokum.

In fact, Khandu crossed the Kumey bridge, took the newly-constructed road going towards Tali vilage and celebrated the Nyokum festival with people from the Nyishi community.

Addressing a huge crowd at Tali, Khandu said, “This is my second visit to Tali. When I first came to Tali with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju for a public meeting in 2017, I remember I came by helicopter and promised to come by road the next time I came to Tali. Today, besides the Nyokum festival, this day is very significant as Tali has got road connectivity after decades.”

“I congratulate all former legislators from Tali for their contribution. I appreciate the efforts of MLA Jikke Tako, who worked hard to get the road and the Kumey bridge in place,” said the CM.

In 2016, the Nyishi Elite Society did a conference in Tali and the delegation approached the Arunachal CM to get funds for the bridge. “Although I sanctioned the corpus of funds required for the construction, the Kumey bridge connecting Yangte and Tali collapsed due to landslides.”

Speaking about how Jikke Tako became upset after the collapse of the crucial bridge, Khandu said, “I told him to stay strong and get the work on the ground done again. I urged PWD officers and the chief engineer to complete the bridge and the road in the stipulated timeframe because I planned to visit Tali by road soon…I also appreciate the efforts taken by NES to get the bridge reconstructed.”

The CM expressed his disappointment over Pipsorang–the largest circle in Tali constituency with poor road connectivity.

“Today, on the auspicious occasion of Nyokum, I assure you all that Pipsorang will also get good roads soon. The ADC circle in Tali will now see tremendous development as road connectivity gets a boost,” said Khandu.

“The road from Yangte to Tali is good now because of the black topping. I will direct the PWD department to check a few junctures on the 12km stretch spanning from Kumey Bridge to Tali district headquarters. The stretch will be widened so that any vehicle can reach Tali without hurdles.”

CM KHANDU THANKS PM MODI

Chief Minister Khandu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing visible development in northeast India, in general, and Arunachal, in particular.

“Earlier, the Northeast was known to be a difficult area and Arunachal being in the extreme northeast is more difficult with its high altitudes and rough terrain. Despite the difficulties we have been facing for the last eight years, a lot of development has taken place here with the blessings of PM Modi,” said Khandu.

The Joram Koloriang transhighway, which was in a dilapidated condition earlier, is now in first class condition. Now, the transhighway facilitates reaching Arunachal’s capital Itanagar in a few hours compared to earlier when it used to take two hours.

“Work is going on in full swing on the transhighway in the state and will be completed soon. In terms of digital connectivity, Tali is isolated as only BSNL can run internet services here. Now, the Government of India has sanctioned more than 1,000 towers to provide 4G services in remote towns and villages near the international border. Airtel and BSNL have got the permits and soon these companies will set up their towers in Tali also,” said Khandu.

‘DEVELOPMENT CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT GOOD ROADS’

Stating how he has emphasized road connectivity for Tali in all development meetings and Assembly session since the beginning of his career in politics, Khandu said, “Connectivity is the backbone of development…If you want development, it is important to have good roads as development cannot happen without good roads.”

“Road connectivity is very important and the main focus of my government has been the deprived Nyishi belt areas. I have toured all the sixty districts headquarters several times but now my focus is the deprived circles and remote villages of Arunachal,” said the CM.

Stating that land compensation always comes in the way of constructing roads, Khandu said, “I urge you all that land should be given free of cost as the government needs to make roads wherever required.”

‘STOP MIGRATION, RETURN FROM ITANAGAR TO TALI’

While speaking exclusively to India Today, CM Khandu urged residents of Tali, who migrated to capital Itanagar, to shift base to their home constituency and stop migration to the capital. He assured the government will soon provide basic infrastructure for the development of the constituency.

“Tali has a lot of potential in terms of tourism but due to its high terrain and lack of connectivity, it has been difficult to develop infrastructure here. Now with the new road and bridge in place, we are in a position to equip this constituency with basic infrastructure and make it habitable for people who have shifted base to the capital,” said Khandu.

Many locals and students of Tali, who have moved to Itanagar, promised to migrate to Tali as now the new road will pave the way for development.