25th Edition of the Hornbill Festival has seen a tremendous improvement in Traffic flow compared to previous years.
To ensure smooth vehicular traffic at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama for the 25th Hornbill Festival 2024, the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Kohima has earlier issued Traffic Advisory for compliance by all concerned.
All vehicles without car pass are parked at Kigwema Ground which is 1.5 km away from Kisama Heritage Village with a parking fee of ₹50. Kigwema Youth Organisation volunteers also have been seen working tirelessly for general parking at the Village Local Ground. Free Bus Services are made available from Kigwema Local Ground to Kisama by the Government. While parking on National Highway between Kisama Entrance gate to Kigwema Local Ground is strictly prohibited with a penalty of ₹500.
Shuttle bus from Kohima Town till Kisama is also being provided with a fare amounting to ₹50. The transportation to and fro is maintained the same from 6:00 am till 9:00 pm.
While the Government’s effort to ease the traffic flow this Hornbill Festival is tremendously on a positive side and its success till date, the people behind the scene – the bus drivers, conductors share their take on the service they are providing.
Transport Cell In-charge, Medoneisa Chadi highlighted that the bus service starts from 5:00 am at Kohima while plying from Kigwema to Kisama starts from 8:00 am till 10:00 pm but also depending upon the passengers that take the service. There are around 27 buses from various departments at Kigwema Ground that are providing the free bus services and around 41 drivers and handymen are working tirelessly, Chadi added. Sacrificing their time the drivers and handymen are all working for public, he maintained.
Chadi highlighted that on the first day of the Festival they made 234 trips, 2nd day 165 trips, 143 on 3rd day, 4th day 71 trips only due do stone pulling ceremony and on the 5th day around 96 trips. He also mentioned that the parking at Kigwema is being managed by KYO (Kigwema Youth Organisation). Buses are fuelled through Government Coupons, he added.
One of the bus drivers from Forest Department narrated that they started their service from 29th November 2024. Speaking on their grievances, the bus drivers urged the concerned authorities and Government to take heed of their service and address the same or look into the matter. Bus drivers also requested the Government to address this matter with much interest. Another bus driver highlighted that after dropping off all the passengers in various locations of Kohima they hardly get 2-3 hours of sleep.
