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What ails road construction in Nagaland?

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Don’t get shocked seeing this photo. Well this is not some trekking taking place in the steep hills of the Himalayas but believe it or not, this is the famed multi-crore two-lane road between Changtongya and Longleng constructed under the Special Accelerated Road Development Project for North East (SARDP NE). Seen in this picture taken a few days back, travelers who have to leave behind their vehicles and transport their baggage to the other side to reach home!
 
Kohima, August 4 (MExN): Reacting to the misery voiced out at the numerous potholes on Nagaland roads, panellists on DD Northeast’s Trends of Nagaland programme Saturday lauded the efforts of young bloggers on its “Mission Pothole” thereby bringing the lamentations of the commuters out on the forefront and onto the streets with its unusual show of displeasure over the conditions of roads in the entire state.

Taking part in the discussion, Commissioner and Secretary C&S (Works & Housing) Temjen Toy said the government gives highest priority to roads but “somehow major problems do crop up in as far as maintenance is concerned with source of funding being a major issue.” Citing several reasons for deteriorating road conditions in the state, C&S (Works & Housing) said it hurt him to see young people’s displeasure and as the administrative head of the department, he took responsibility for any dereliction of assigned duties on the part of his officers especially in monitoring and evaluation of works assigned to contractors.

However Toy also equally blamed certain contractors who look at profit as sole motive thereby making compromises in terms of quality. He also placed an onus on the public to take up the responsibility of allowing proper drainage to run through their neighbourhood stating that clogged drains were major factors for creation of potholes even on the best of roads.

Toy cited the maintenance work undertaken at the six kilometre stretch of road between TCP gate till I.G Stadium which was completed within 8 months with all National Highway specifications adhered to at the highest level. The work, he said, was undertaken by one of the senior most contractor but without any violations of specifications, workmanship but yet potholes have developed few months after completion. Toy posed as a query as food for thought as to why and what was responsible for emergence of potholes even in this particular stretch of road, considered to be the best laid road.

Responding to a Naga Blogger’s query on the amount received by the department in the current year, Toy informed that it had been allocated with Rs.250 Crores under Plan which ultimately will be utilised for upgradation and improvement of roads. Stating that the intricacies of government procedure do not permit spending money under plan on maintenance, he however said efforts are being made by the department for which the central government has been appraised to spend money under Plan on maintenance as well.

C&S said that the government has kept funds for maintenance of roads in all the district headquarters and that it would go to the extent possible to maintain the road but expressed apprehension on the longetivity of these roads. He summed up the discussion stating “Are these potholes that exist on our roads actually a metaphor that exist in our society today? I think we should all think about it,” he queried.

Also taking part in the discussion, President Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers’ Union, Pele Khezhie said contractors give all out efforts while implementing assigned works. He however said despite having equipped with latest equipments and state-of-the-art technological machineries, taxation, land instability and lack of civic sense act as deterrents to quality output in civil works.

While expressing appreciation to the central government for the Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP-NE) of widening four roads in the state, he however expressed displeasure of the government’s decision to award the contract work to M/s Gayatri-Maytas JV, stating that this decision had “victimized the local contractors.” Khezhie viewed that the local contractors should have been allowed to implement the project block-wise or phase-wise.

Speaking on the geologist’s perspective on the formation of potholes on roads, Dr.Hovithal Sothu, State Coordinator, State Disaster Management Cell, ATI said rocks used on Nagaland roads consist of young barail sandstones which weaken when heavy loaded vehicles ply on them. Dr.Sothu said Kohima is located above the Disang basement which constitute of soft rocks which are fine grained and absorb lot of water that do not give out the absorbed water thereby resulting in dampening of the rocks. He suggested that geologists and expert opinions should be incorporated in any mega projects undertaken by the government through the contractors.

Robert Solo, Theja Vizo and Susan Lotha represented the Naga Blog and described the concept of initiating the ‘Mission Pothole” as a good idea to send a message across to the government to address the issue of poor roads. Susan termed the mission as “a new wave and something unique cutting across age and generation to show a people friendly, government friendly form of protest and not just a blatant agitation.”

Audience comprising of students from different colleges also took part in the panel discussion and posed their queries to the panellists. The show was anchored by senior journalist and TV presenter K.V.Nurumi and the recorded/repeat telecast of the programme will be shown on DDK Kohima Sunday at 6 P.M.

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Experts have found SARDP roads acceptable, PWD claims
Dimapur, August 4 (MExN): The Nagaland State Public Works Department (National Highways) today responded to criticism in the Media over the implementation of work on roads under the Special Accelerated Road Development Project for North East (SARDP NE). The PWD today claimed that “experts” have found the roads “acceptable”.

Chief Engineer Peter Solo of the PWD issued a press release today responding to “newspaper reports” on the implementation of the SARDP (NE) project in Nagaland executed by controversial contractor Maytas & Gayatri (JV).
The department stated that the SARDP project has been abandoned but temporarily suspended due to the monsoon. “While some items of works are continuing, major works will re-commence during the working season. It may be mentioned that more than 80% of earth work and 25% of culverts have been completed on all the four roads,” the bureaucrat stated. The department also expressed regret that the people of Zunheboto, Phek and Longleng districts are facing inconveniences and problems due to subsidence and mudslides during this rainy season. “However, the contractor is fully engaged in clearing all slides and the road is expected to be opened shortly.”

On issues concerning the “revision of costs,” the PWD admitted that the initial Detail Project Report was “found deficient as the quantum of earth work had been largely underestimated.”

It was only during implementation that the deficiencies were observed and works were carried out as per actual requirements, Solo stated. During the Indian Roads Congress meeting held at Kohima in May-June this year, “road experts” were taken to various spots and “they have found the works acceptable,” the bureaucrat claimed.

“Further, the Government of India has constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri.Vijay Chibber, Special Secretary and Financial Advisor to the Government of India for inspection and follow up action on execution of the roads. The Department would like to clarify that the costs of similar projects in other hilly regions are higher than that of Nagaland as per the original DPR.”

The PWD explained what it said of the project as “under contract with joint venture.” The question of it being handed over to any other agency does not arise unless the contract is nullified as per procedures and the terms of agreement, Solo stated. “The department, once again, seeks the cooperation of all concerned so that the Project can be completed on time.”


      


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