Zeliang vows increased inspections of NH road projects in Nagaland

December 19, 2024 3 Views No Comment

Kohima, December 19 (MExN): The Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of Planning & Transformation and National Highways (NH), TR Zeliang, today informed that he would continue to oversee the ongoing works in the state with onsite inspections of NH projects in Nagaland.

A press release from the Deputy CM’s office stated that a detailed plan of action is in place to advance what was termed as Zeliang’s “sincere concern and effort in the sustainable development” of NH projects in the state.

Among other plans, a quarterly coordination meeting with all implementing agencies in the state will now be held monthly on a need basis, it said.

As desired by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, Nitin Gadkari, on October 21, the coordination meeting will now be held along with officials from the Regional Office, MoRTH Guwahati, and even officials from the Ministry on matters that require immediate attention and intervention, the release noted.

The first coordination meeting 2025 will be held in January with NPWD (NH), NHIDCL, and BRTF to assess the status of all ongoing projects under their respective supervision, it added.

Meanwhile, following the NH tour from November 11-14 covering six districts, the Deputy CM will also inspect all ongoing highway projects under NHIDCL, tentatively in January 2025, followed by projects under BRTF.

In this regard, the Executive Director of NHIDCL Kohima, officials from the respective PMUs, and concerned contractors are expected to be present at their respective sites during the tour, the release said.

Regarding some projects under NHIDCL that are stalled, incomplete, or yet to be started due to land acquisition issues, the Deputy CM intends to have in-depth discussions with landowners, along with Village Council Chairmen, GBs, and the respective Deputy Commissioners, it informed.

The objective is to understand the issues firsthand and take the necessary steps to resolve such impasses.

If some projects, which have been delayed for years due to unreasonable land acquisition matters, fail to be resolved within the given timeline, the NPWD (NH) Department will have no option but to recommend the foreclosure and de-sanctioning of such projects, it added.

The release further claimed that sustainable road connectivity remains one of the top priorities of the current dispensation under the leadership of CM Neiphiu Rio, and the Deputy CM intends to implement this without compromising on quality and workmanship.

He also expressed confidence that with active oversight of the projects, pending issues will be addressed, and the projects will be completed within the stipulated deadlines, it said.

To this end, Zeliang appealed to all stakeholders to cooperate and support the existing government policies and regulations laid down by the State regarding the construction of NHs for the timely completion.

Timely completion is particularly important as the State government plans to propose and seek sanctions for more NH projects, he stressed. However, if the existing projects are delayed or fail, it could hinder the State’s ability to secure new sanctions, depriving many stakeholders in the interior parts of the state of good and sustainable NHs, he pointed out.

People from other parts of the state should not have to continue suffering from poor road conditions at the cost of a few vested interest persons, he added.