NH-2 Road Project: HC directs NHIDCL to apprise Court on incomplete work by Nov 12

November 8, 2024 5 Views No Comment

Kohima, November 8 (MExN): The Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench (GHCKB), on November 6, directed the NHIDCL to apprise the Court by November 12 regarding the steps to be taken to complete the remaining portion of the ongoing the Kohima-Mao road project on National Highway-2.

Earlier, on October 23, the Court had directed the NHIDCL to submit an affidavit detailing the outcome of two tenders for short-term maintenance of the road on the stretch, as well as the steps the agency proposed to adopt to complete the remaining portion left unfinished due to the termination of the contract with the previous contractor.

The contract between the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the EPC contractor M/s Fortune Group “stands terminated w.e.f. 18/09/2024,” as per the October 23 Court’s order.

However, after reviewing the affidavit submitted by NHIDCL, the GHCKB Division Bench of Justice Soumitra Saikia and Justice Kaushik Goswami observed that it was silent on the steps the agency proposed to take to complete the remaining portion of the project and issued the direction.

In response, the counsel for NHIDCL assured the Bench that an additional affidavit, containing details of the procedures to complete the remaining work, would be filed by the specified date.

Accordingly, the matter has been listed for further hearing on November 13, with the Court stating that if the affidavit is not filed within the given timeline, it may pass consequential orders.

During the hearing of the Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation concerning the “Upgradation of the existing road to a 2-lane with paved shoulders” on the NH-2 Kohima-Mao stretch, NHIDCL also provided information that Letters of Acceptance had been issued to two contractors for short-term maintenance.

The first tender addresses an 8.46 km stretch (Km 185.540 to Km 194.000), while the second covers 18.334 km (Km 194.000 to Km 212.334).

As per the Court’s record, the project’s contract agreement was signed on October 7, 2020, with construction set to commence on October 20, 2020, and completion targeted for April 22, 2022.

Due to delays in starting the groundwork, however, the Court took up the matter on Suo Moto on April 2, 2022.

Despite the lapse of the initial completion deadline (new) of May 31, 2024, only 74.23% of the physical work and 72.13% of the financial progress had been completed as of September 4, status report submitted to the Court informed.

Blood Bank issue:
Meanwhile, on another PIL concerning the implementation of the National Blood Policy in Nagaland, the standing counsel for the National Health Mission, Nagaland, informed the Court that the work order pertaining to the procurement and installation of equipment for establishing blood banks in the four districts of Tuensang, Kiphire, Mon, and Phek has been completed.

The counsel further submitted that he would like to submit the relevant documents reflecting the completion of the work by way of an affidavit and, requested a week’s time.

Accordingly, the Division Bench of Justices Saikia and Goswami granted the request and listed the matter for November 13.