Our Correspondent
Kohima | September 14
Status of various road projects took centre stage during the question hour of the last day of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly Session on Thursday as legislators questioned their counterparts over the progress of various infrastructure undertakings.
Deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of National Highways, TR Zeliang said safety measures have been taken up since the July 4 tragic incident along the Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road (package 1).
Replying to MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu on the status of NHIDCL project – Kohima- Bypass 2 lane road NH- 29 (Package 4), Zeliang in a written reply stated that various safety measures have been undertaken by EPC Contractor for preventing landslide and rock fall prone areas within Dimapur-Kohima 4-Lane Road in Package-I.
It included breast wall along with coir mat, rock fall protection (Rock Barrier/Netting/Bolting), slope protection works with Hydro seeding, installation of Metal Beam Crash barrier in median at vulnerable locations in Paglapahar stretch, neutralization of potentially hazardous rocks, unstable soil on hill slope at locations as identified by NHIDCL Technical Committee and HLTC, GoN, clearance of rock fail, debris on occurrence is being carried out by the EPC Contractor.
It stated that regular patrolling is being carried out by the EPC Contractor during & after rainfall to maintain round the clock vigil of the ibid stretch.
EPC Contractor is continuously interacting with Traffic Police for providing road closures when clearance of slides is being undertaken, Zeliang stated.
Two lives have been lost due to landslide and rock fall within Dimapur- Kohima road as on July 4, the written reply stated.
Zeliang also informed that the said project is in ongoing stage and the percentage of physical and financial progress was at 23.14 percent and 19.92 percent respectively.
Azo said road infrastructure through the length and breadth of Nagaland to connect with the rest of India is of national and international importance.
However, the centre and state agency cannot over look the geographical challenges. The state government should insist on environmental clearance, not to neglect road safety measures too, he said.
Nagaland Gandhi Ashram, Chuchuyimlang to Pangsha
With regard to starred question put forward by MLA Nuklutoshi on the status of NH 2 from Nagaland Gandhi Ashram, Chuchuyimlang to Pangsha, Deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of National Highways TR Zeliang in written reply stated that the tentative cost estimate for consultancy services for preparation of Feasibility Study and Detailed Project Report was accorded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on July 31, 2017.
After tendering formalities, the tender based estimate was submitted to the Ministry on April 24, 2018 for approval. Reply in this matter is awaited despite seeking instruction from the MoRTH.
When asked if any amount has been sanctioned for the road, it stated that no amount has been sanctioned and that to accord sanction was outside the purview of the State Government, and the competent authority is MoRTH.
Nuklutoshi said that Nagaland Gandhi Ashram, Chuchuyimlang to Pangsha covers 167 villages, connecting Central and eastern Nagaland.
He said this road connect Myanmar, the districts of Noklak, Tuensang, Mon, Mokokchung, connecting Assam state.
This road will fulfill the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Act East Policy for infrastructure international trade, he said.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that the state government is pursuing this road and the state in its last letter in June 2022 has submitted proposal for declaration of this road as National Highway.
“Since it was agreed in principle, it should be declared in toto so that things can activate,” he said. Rio, however, said that the request of the state government from 2016 till 2022 is still awaited.
We have been following and will continue to pursue since it is agreed in principle, he said.
Amguri NH 61 (2) Tuli to Niuland
In written reply to MLA Nuklutoshi on the status of road from Amguri NH 61 (2) Tuli to Niuland via Longchem- Changpang- Governor’s Camp under SARDP- NE Phase- B, T. R. Zeliang, deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of National Highways stated that the final DPR was submitted to Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MorTH) amounting to Rs 3284.06 crore on June 6, 2019. The DPR has been prepared and the amount has not been sanctioned.
Phek to Kutsapo
PWD (R&B) minister G. Kaito Aye informed that notice inviting tender for road from Phek to Kutsapo village was issued on 30.11.2022.
Replying this to MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu on the status of the road in the second session of 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) in Kohima, Aye informed that the physical progress of the work stands at 52% and the amount released for the work was Rs 801.94 lakhs (100%).
However, only an amount of Rs 330.00 lakhs (42%) has been released to the contractor as per the work executed.
