Hill-cutting and river-widening work to prevent erosion along the Chathe River on NH-29 remains in progress as of September 9. The first major erosion at Chainage 126 in the Tsiedukhru Range occurred on the intervening night of September 3-4, 2024, followed by another disruption on June 16, 2026. Morung Photo)
Sets fresh directions and deadlines
Moa Jamir
Dimapur | September 10
The Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench (GHCKB), has expressed continued concern over the progress of road works on the Dimapur-Kohima National Highway, issuing fresh directions on maintenance of Packages I and II, completion of Package III, slope protection works and the Lerie Welcome Gate-Jotsoma Bypass stretch.
The Division Bench of Justice Manish Choudhury and Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer issued the order on September 9 after reviewing compliance with earlier directions. During the hearing, the Amicus Curiae in the ongoing suo motu PIL concerning the highway also drew the Court’s attention to affidavits filed by various stakeholders.
Packages I, II & III
On August 27, the Court had directed NHIDCL and its Dimapur branch to complete maintenance works on Packages I and II before September 9 and file a compliance affidavit.
In its affidavit, the NHIDCL stated that Package I, covering approximately 14.935 km along the challenging Tsiedukhru Range, was being maintained through a Short Term Maintenance Contract (STMC), including road repairs, drain clearance, slide removal and bituminous repairs.
However, it cited monsoon-related maintenance challenges, further noting that around four km continued to have motorability problems, with permanent subgrade-level reconstruction taken up under a PBMC following a survey.
A five-year PBMC agreement was signed on August 31, with the contractor mobilising and prioritising permanent reconstruction of the four-km stretch while interim maintenance continues, it added.
For Package II, NHIDCL said the EPC contractor remained unresponsive despite repeated notices and accordingly, an estimate for maintenance at the contractor’s risk and cost was submitted on September 1, pending approval for tendering.
The Court directed that the newly appointed PBMC contractor for Package I, M/s Trinity Group, be impleaded as a party in the PIL.
NHIDCL’s counsel was also directed to place before the Court a month-wise bar chart showing the contractor’s expected progress for Package I and expressed hope that the Package II tender process would be expedited and completed, preferably within September.
On Package III, the Court had been informed on August 27 that 90% of the work was complete. The latest affidavit again reported physical progress at 90%, with miscellaneous and rectification works remaining.
As the project works in respect of Package-III are meant to be completed by the September, the Court directed the NHIDCL to file a completion report by October 7.
Slope protection still delayed
The Court also reviewed slope protection measures along the existing road under Packages I, II and III.
Under an earlier undertaking, the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) was due by June 30, followed by approvals in July-August, land acquisition and tendering.
The latest hearing recorded that the DPR remained unfinalised, with NHIDCL citing additional measures proposed by the Peer Review Expert after a site visit in May.
Observing that September to March is a more suitable construction period in Nagaland, the Court directed all stakeholders to expedite finalisation of the DPR.
NHIDCL was also directed to initiate land acquisition and publication of the EPC tender at the earliest after completion of the DPR process, and submit a progress report with its next affidavit.
Lerie-Jotsoma stretch remains a concern
Earlier on August 27, the Court had expressed particular displeasure over progress on the Lerie Welcome Gate-Jotsoma Bypass stretch under Nagaland PWD (NH).
Physical progress had been reported at 53.89% on August 27, despite financial progress appearing considerably higher. The latest report showed only a marginal increase to 54.18% as of September 1, with 0% recorded in some weeks.
Appearing personally as directed earlier, Chief Engineer, NPWD (NH), said he had been working to improve physical progress since taking charge on July 14, but acknowledged that the contractor’s efforts remained below expectations.
A show-cause notice was issued to the contractor (Semp And Co), seeking an explanation on why penalties and other measures should not be taken and the reply is awaited, he added.
The Amicus Curiae of the case also highlighted potholes throughout the stretch, stating that commuting had become difficult and members of the public had attempted to fill some potholes themselves.
To this end, the contractor undertook to fill all potholes along the stretch by September 30.
The Court also directed the Chief Engineer to inspect the stretch and report on the pothole status in the next affidavit as well as filing subsequent construction progress reports after September 1.
The matter has been listed for October 7, with the Court stating that it expects sufficient progress by then.
Meanwhile, a day later on September 10, another rockfall struck the Tsiedukhru Range under Package I, damaging a vehicle, but its passenger escaped unhurt.
