Naharlagun and Itanagar are commonly known as the twin capitals of Arunachal Pradesh and fall under the administrative jurisdiction of the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR). Naharlagun has held the status of Census town since 1981 and is located only 12 kilometres from Itanagar, along NH 415. The lack of efficient urban mobility has made commuting between the two cities increasingly difficult. Despite the short distance, the poor condition of roads, and lack of public transportation has turned everyday travel into a burdensome endeavour for many.
Down To Earth (DTE) spoke to a 30-year-old working woman who lives in Naharlagun and works in Itanagar. For her, the daily commute is both exhausting and costly. She relies on a shared vehicle “trekker,” which charges Rs 100 for a one-way trip. “I spend Rs 200 a day just to get to and from work,” she said. “That adds up to nearly Rs 4,000 a month.” The trekker service is not just expensive. It is inconvenient, often requiring long waits before departure as the vehicles fill up. “Even though Itanagar isn’t far, the journey takes at least an hour,” she added. “Owning a private vehicle would make life easier, but that’s not an option for everyone.”
She also pointed out the deteriorating road conditions in Naharlagun, which she said are even poorer than those in Itanagar. “In the summer, there’s dust everywhere; in the monsoon, potholes turn into mini ponds,” she said. “There are no proper footpaths, and where they exist, they’re broken. Pedestrians often have to walk on the roads alongside reckless drivers.” Safety during nighttime travel is a major concern, especially during bad weather, as the roads are poorly lit. Once dependent on line buses, she notes that they are now rarely seen, adding to the burden on those who rely on public transport. “The government isn’t doing enough. Transport remains a major challenge for daily commuters like us.”
Similarly, cyclist Ijum Gadi, who runs the Itanagar Cycling Club, stressed that environmental concern, fitness, and zero-emission commuting were the motivations behind promoting cycling. However, he expressed his frustration at the lack of infrastructure. “There are no dedicated cycle lanes, no pedestrian paths, no cycle-friendly corridors,” he said. “The government’s response to congestion, building more roads and flyovers, is outdated. In many parts of the world, it’s proven that improving public transportation and promoting bicycles and e-bikes leads to healthier, greener cities.”
Gadi also pointed to a lack of awareness about sustainable mobility options and said traffic in the capital region continues to increase, with little meaningful intervention.
His concerns are supported by data. According to the District Transport Officer’s (DTO) report, over 92,730 vehicles have been registered in the ICR since 2013. The number continues to rise annually, placing further strain on already congested and poorly maintained roads. Naharlagun, in particular, faces acute challenges due to ongoing highway expansions, including the Trans-Arunachal Highway (Package B) and flyover projects that have faced delays. These projects, while necessary, have become bottlenecks themselves, complicating mobility in the region.
The ICR administration acknowledges that the area’s population is steadily increasing, and that urban planning needs to be urgently revisited. Due to rapid settlement and unplanned construction, effective drainage systems could not be developed. Many buildings were erected haphazardly, blocking essential drainage paths. Even with the four-lane construction project in progress, mobility remains problematic. Ten years ago, the administration had anticipated such issues and formed a committee to address congestion. Moreover, the highway expansion, new roads and bridges have been proposed, including alternative routes like the Jullang Road, which is currently under development.
These long-term plans aim to reduce congestion in critical areas and to support future growth. The city’s Master Plan guided by the Arunachal Pradesh Urban and Country Planning Act, 2007 is being revised to accommodate the region’s 30-year outlook. The Itanagar Master Plan 2031 includes urban agglomerations like Banderdewa, Karsingsa, Nirjuli, Emchi, Doimukh, and others, covering a planning area of 271 sq. km. The region accounts for nearly 30 per cent of Arunachal Pradesh’s urban population and is facing unprecedented challenges in urban management, infrastructure capacity, and land use.
Naharlagun Railway Station, located in Papum Pare district, connects the city to Assam via Harmuti Junction, 19 km away. However, access to the station is another hurdle. A student commuting to Guwahati for his studies explained that a single overcrowded public bus serves the station in the morning. “Sometimes I can’t even get a seat,” he said. “Coming back home to D-Sector is difficult. The dusty roads and their condition just add to the fatigue of travel.”
The lack of proper connectivity often forces people to consider let them to own their own private vehicles for better access.
“A dedicated and a reliable local transport network, could improve connectivity and reduce dependency on private vehicles”, the young boy suggested.
The Master Plan 2031 identifies over 460 encroachments within the 30-metre right-of-way along the National Highway. Nearly 200 of these are in Naharlagun alone, contributing to obstructions of traffic and expansion projects.
Furthermore, air pollution particularly from vehicles has emerged as a growing issue to mobility. Doctors report a noticeable rise in respiratory and cardiovascular ailments. Hospitals like TRIHMS and RKM have observed an increase in cases of asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, and chronic cough, especially during the winter when temperature inversions and biomass burning compound pollution.
According to TRIHMS data, there were 2,795 Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) cases recorded in May 2024 alone. The trend, which begins in winter and peaks in early summer, suggests strong seasonal influences. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions are the most affected. Commuters exposed to traffic pollution, such as street vendors, garbage collectors, daily wage labourers, and traffic police, are particularly susceptible.
Dukam Taipodia, State Nodal Officer NPHCE cum assistant nodal officer for Climate Change and Human Health, said, “We have supplied low-cost AQI monitors to eight district hospitals in February 2025, but the data is still pending,”.
He added, “A proper correlation between air quality and illness can only be established once continuous monitoring is in place. We also plan to study indoor air pollution, another major concern in the state, with 47 per cent of households still using biomass for cooking, as per National Family Health Survey-5.”
Information provided by the National Program on climate change and human health further revealed that a research collaboration with AIIMS Guwahati is proposed to begin in August 2025, aiming to study the health effects of ambient and indoor air pollution on vulnerable groups. Budgetary constraints remain a challenge, with only Rs 2 lakh allocated annually for climate-health initiatives.
“There are no data in the state for the air quality index (AQI) to correlate with Acute Respiratory illnesses, as the pollution control board at Naharlagun has only one monitor. We have supplied the Low cost AQIs to 8 district headquarters only in February 2025. But data is yet to come,” informed an official.
Urban planning, public transport, and health are deeply interconnected. Doctors suggest that improving public transport, enhancing footpaths and cycling infrastructure, and transitioning to electric vehicles are urgent needs. Mobile healthcare services, better connectivity to primary health centers, and decentralised health research are also recommended to address the growing burden of disease linked to mobility and pollution.
Meanwhile, Kabak Tamar, public health specialist, urban health coordinator, and general secretary of the Arunachal Pradesh Doctors Association, has also confirmed that air pollution particularly from vehicular emissions has become a growing concern in the Itanagar Capital Region which is due to the increasing number of vehicles, frequent traffic congestion, and inadequate public transport infrastructure. He also stated that the Arunachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board has occasionally released reports indicating that PM2.5 and PM10 levels often exceed safe limits, especially near traffic junctions. However, real-time air quality monitoring in the region remains limited.
The mobility crisis in Naharlagun and Itanagar is not merely an infrastructure issue; it is undoubtedly a public health emergency as well.
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.