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Residents of Dimapur, Nagaland face a lack of affordable options.
This forces them to walk long miles, despite inadequate footpaths and buses failing to match demand.
The city has solutions at its disposal to tackle the situation, with proven payoffs for both mobility as well as economy.
In Dimapur, Nagaland’s bustling commercial epicenter, the morning rush paints a vivid picture of a city fighting to move forward. Streets turn into scene of chaos, with schoolchildren dodging hawkers, office-goers teetering on broken curbs and women lugging baskets past an impatient system that is struggling to keep up with the demands of its growing population.
By 8:30 am in Dhobinala, the answer to “Why do you walk?” is simple and unanimous: Auto-rickshaws are unaffordable. Dimapur’s streets have become more than just pathways — they have become a battleground. Walking is no longer a choice but a necessity in a city where transportation is no other way.
Dimapur’s public transport system consists of a grand total of eight buses serving nearly 400,000 people (according to a survey by School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi). With just 26 km of usable footpaths, walking has become the only viable option. Autos are a luxury and the bus system is barely functioning.
Stalls spill onto every inch of available space, forcing pedestrians to dodge trucks, two-wheelers and street vendors. The footpaths are practically non-existent, replaced by tea stalls, vegetable carts and the ever-present smog. Walking through Dimapur is not a peaceful stroll — it’s survival. Every step feels like an obstacle course, a test of agility and patience.
The National Highway-29 is supposed to be Dimapur’s main arterial route, a smooth corridor for both trade and travel. In fact, it is a tug-of-war between freight, shoppers, pedestrians and motor vehicles. By night, massive trucks rumble in, transporting goods across the region. By day, street vendors and shoppers take over, transforming the highway into a bustling marketplace.
And for pedestrians? The footpaths evaporate for kilometres, while cyclists, cart-pushers and city buses fight for space.
The result is a constant traffic nightmare — hour-long jams, polluted air, and clogged streets. The highway has no service roads, no bus bays, and footpaths that barely exist.
This chaotic mix of freight, commerce and pedestrians makes every trip a struggle. For Dimapur’s pedestrians, surviving the street is not just about crossing it — it’s about outsmarting the traffic.
Dimapur’s public transport system is barely functioning. With just eight buses for a population of nearly four lakh, the system cannot meet the demand. Bus terminals are either abandoned or overflowing with frustrated commuters.
There’s no reliable schedule, and the few buses that do run are often late or crowded (according to an SPA Delhi survey). For the working class, the bus system is a distant dream, and without it, they have no choice but to rely on the expensive auto-rickshaws.
Dimapur’s auto-rickshaw fleet fills the gap, but with sky-high fares, many cannot afford it. And so, the city’s residents are left with no option but to navigate unsafe roads on foot, risking injury and exposure to pollution. The city is stuck, waiting for someone to take the first step toward change.
Dimapur does not have to stay stuck in this perpetual gridlock. The solution is clear and bold. Here's a seven-point plan to get Dimapur back in motion:
• Freight windows & truck havens: Trucks need dedicated parking areas far from the main roads. Enforce fines for violators to ensure the highway is kept clear for local traffic.
• Service roads: Build parallel service roads to separate local traffic from freight vehicles. This will reduce congestion and make the flow of traffic smoother for everyone.
• BRT priority: Create a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane that will make buses more reliable, affordable, and efficient. This will give public transport the priority it deserves, not just for the wealthy, but for everyone.
• Smarter junctions: Overhaul key intersections like Walford and Super Market Road, reworking them with modern designs to reduce delays and improve traffic flow.
• Vendor relocation: Relocate street vendors to designated vending zones, freeing up sidewalks for pedestrians and creating safer spaces for walking.
• Frontage-control code: New buildings should be set back at least 15 metres from the road and have service bays for loading and parking. This will prevent traffic conflicts caused by supermarkets or shops spilling into the street.
• Real-time pollution watch: Instal real-time air quality monitors along NH-29 and nearby zones. During high pollution periods, implement vehicle restraint measures like timed entry restrictions or dynamic tolling for heavy and low-occupancy vehicles. Funds collected can support clean mobility and street upgrades
These fixes are not just pipe dreams but practical solutions with a clear payoff. Simulations conducted by the SPA Delhi show that:
• Travel times could be reduced by 40 per cent
• Truck delays could be cut by 62 per cent
• Pedestrian crash risks could fall by 20 per cent
The economic benefits are just as striking. Dimapur could see annual productivity gains of Rs 120 crore. This means that the cost of these reforms will be more than justified by the positive impact on the economy.
Dimapur already has everything it needs to be a thriving regional hub — railways, highways and commerce. But unless the city fixes its streets, it will never unlock its full potential.
The time has come for Dimapur to choose: Keep stumbling in gridlock, or take a bold step forward to create a future of movement, opportunity and safety.
The blueprint for change is already in place. The cost is modest, and the payoff is immediate. The only thing missing is the courage to act.
Dimapur’s walkers are waiting. The city’s economy is waiting. Its air is choking. The first step toward change is not in a budget document or a consultant’s office — it is on the ground, at the next crossing, in every lane that refuses to move.
This article is part of our series on how India moves, which looks at the relationship between air quality and human mobility in cities and towns.