Four-laning of NH 29 to be ‘completed’ only by Aug 2025

August 7, 2023 40 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 7

Out of the 42.86 kilometres under the four-laning of National Highway 29 from Dimapur to Kohima, a total of 28.65 km is targeted for completion by this month; however, the remaining 14.21 kilometers may not be completed until August 2025.

The main reasons for the delay in completion are the contractor’s default and the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari informed on August 3 in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
So far, approximately Rs 1,215 crore has been spent on the four-laning project.

The progress of Package-III of the four-lane project, which covers a distance of 14.2 km from Piphema to Jotsoma (Design Km 152.490 to Km 166.700), has been hampered by problems. The contracts with the first (Gayatri Projects Ltd) and second (Oasis Techno Construction Ltd) contractors were terminated midway, further delaying the project.

On March 31, 2023, the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, hearing a Public Interest Litigation (Sou Motu), directed the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to execute a new contract for the completion of Package III as per the Joint Venture (JV) bid submitted by two firms. However, the NHIDCL obtained a stay order from the Supreme Court.

As of June 30, 2023, the status of Package-III is listed as “To be Re-awarded” on the NHIDCL website.

Status of NH 702A and 702B
In response another query by Yepthomi on the status of NH 702A and 702B, the MoRTH informed that work of two lane with hard shoulders covering 3.5 km from Pfutsero to Phek on NH-702A had been completed on March 27, 2022.

“Work of 2-lane with hard shoulders in 79 km from Chakabama to Zunheboto in 3 packages was awarded on 28-03-2018, of which 2 packages have been completed,” it informed.

In the remaining length of NH-702A, Ministry has awarded Project Management Consultancy Services (PMC) for preparation of DPR and construction supervision, which started its services on April 12, 2023, the Ministry added.

On the 52.6 km NH-702B, the work of rehabilitation and up-gradation from Tuensang to Longleng was sanctioned under North-East Road Sector Development Scheme (NERSDS) of Ministry of DONER and has been awarded on 14-02-2020, it added.

Over 82% of funds for Mon medical college released
Meanwhile, the Union Government has already released 82.90% of its share for the construction of the Government Medical College in Mon.

The approved cost of the medical college is Rs 325 crore and with fund sharing between the Union and State Government at 90:10 for North-East States, the former’s share comes to Rs. 292.50 crore.

Out of Rs 292.50 crore, a sum of Rs 242.50 crore has already been released to the State Government, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar informed.

The Mon Government Medical College was approved under Phase-III of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals,’ the MoS stated in written reply to a query by Yepthomi on August 4.

Under the Scheme, 157 Government medical colleges have been approved, including 2 medical colleges in Nagaland at Kohima and Mon.

As per guidelines of the scheme, the planning, execution and commissioning of the project are to be done by the State Government.