Directs MoRTH, State Govt, Highway authorities to take appropriate and concerted action
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 5
The Kohima Bench, Gauhati High Court pulled up authorities over the poor condition of the National Highway 2 between Dimapur and Imphal through a suo moto public interest litigation (PIL).
In an order issued on March 2, a bench comprising Justive Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Devashis Baruah noted that the NH 2 which is also part of the Trans Asia highway connecting India to other South Asian countries under the Act East Policy “has gone from bad to worse.”
It said that though 15-20 years has passed since the policy was announced, “Nothing much has happened on this highway except the ongoing 4-lane construction between Dimapur and Kohima and repairing of the existing 2-lanes on Manipur side.”
Referring to the road from Kohima to Mao (Manipur border town), the Court noted that the condition of the highway has gone from bad to worse and commuters have to negotiate between big and deep potholes, making it very difficult to travel. It said that the stretch has not been maintained for the last six years and “It looks like as if, there is nobody responsible for it.”
The Court also said that the poor condition of the highway was a contributing factor for the high price of commodities in the two states. “The importance this highway holds in the day to day life of the 5 to 6 million people seems to have escaped the view or attention of people who are in charge,” it said, while underscoring that the NH 2 is also the first highway that people of South Asian countries would see when they enter India from the east.
“Therefore, it is a matter of prestige also for our country, to maintain this highway,” it emphasized.
In this connection, the Court stated that unless the highway which connects millions of people in the state of Manipur and Nagaland is immediately repaired before the coming monsoon, “the so called National Highway/Trans Asia highway will have to be closed due to its deplorable condition.”
It directed the Ministry of Road and Transport and Highways (MoRTH), National Highway Authority of India, the NHIDCL and the Government of Nagaland to take appropriate and concerted action so that the highway is made travel worthy and people’s suffering and woes are relived to some extent.
According to the Court, Manoj KumarMishra, the General Manager of NHIDCL, PMU Jakhama and in-charge of the particular stretch of highway, had submitted that a work order to upgrade the road has been issued to the contractor M/S Fortune Groups. However, because of the problems the Contractor faced due to non-availability of the Right of Way (ROW), the work could not proceed, the Court stated, while adding that if the State Government takes the initiative and help the NHIDCL in settling the land issues, the work can start immediately.
Listing the matter again for March 16, the Court issued a notice to various respondents which included the Secretary, Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways; Managing Director of NHIDCL; Chief Secretary of Nagaland; Commissioner of Nagaland; Commissioner & Secretary for Works and Housing; Kohima Deputy Commissioner; Jakhama SDO (Civil); as well as the Contractor M/S Fortune Groups.
It further directed the NHIDCL to submit all relevant copies of correspondence regarding ROW to the Additional AG within two days.
