Nagaland 4-Lane road project incomplete even after 8 years: Deputy CM

October 23, 2024 22 Views No Comment

Kohima, October 23 ((MExN): The Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road project of National Highway (29) remains incomplete after eight years, leading to daily inconveniences for the public, Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang said on Sunday.

During the Project Review Meeting of National Highways (NH) in Nagaland, held in New Delhi on October 21, Zeliang highlighted the issues plaguing the project, particularly in Package-1, which includes the Pagla Pahar stretch.

He noted that the initial Detailed Project Report (DPR) failed to incorporate slope protection measures, exacerbating hazards for commuters.

Recalling tragic incidents, Zeliang mentioned that two lives were lost on July 4, 2023, when a falling rock struck a vehicle, while a similar incident on July 5, 2024, resulted in serious injuries to the occupants.

To compound matters, he reported that a major portion of the road was swept away by river erosion earlier this year, forcing the closure of the road and allowing only one-way traffic.

Additionally, he expressed concern regarding National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) issuance of a completion certificate for Package-II, despite visible signs that the work is far from complete.

Zeliang voiced his dissatisfaction that the State Government was not kept informed about the certificate’s issuance and called for an official technical team from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to conduct an on-site verification.

Notably, however, he refrained from commenting on Package-III, regarded as one of the most problematic stretches of the NH-29 four-lane project.

The Project Review Meeting was attended by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Ministers of State Ajay Tamta and Harsh Malhotra, who reviewed the status of various NH projects in Nagaland.