4-lane still far from completion

The ambitious four-lane expansion of National Highway-29 from Dimapur to Kohima, covering 75 km, continues to remain hindered nearly a decade after work commenced.
Approved in 2013 and launched in 2016 under Packages 1, 2 and 3, the project was scheduled for completion by March 31, 2021. Once completed, the highway was expected to cut travel time between Dimapur and Kohima from 2.5 hours to just one hour, significantly improving connectivity for Nagaland and neighbouring regions. However, despite being the first four-lane project of its kind in the state, work has progressed sluggishly with large portions still incomplete.
At present, only the stretch between Medziphema and Jharnapani is operational as a four-lane road, while the majority of the highway continues to function as a two-lane road.
Frequent mudslides have also blocked more than 18 key points along the alignment, with over seven stretches still under active threat.
The KMC old dumping zone faces the risk of being completely cut off, while the Pagala Pahar stretch continues to experience unstable terrain. Though protective nets have been installed in certain rockfall-prone zones, overall progress remains negligible.
Many travellers expressed disappointment, with some remarking that the earlier two-lane highway was safer than the present condition of the incomplete four-lane. Citizens have also questioned the viability of undertaking large-scale infrastructure projects in Nagaland given the recurring delays.
Despite repeated assurances from the government, contractors and executing firms, the project remains unfinished, raising concerns over planning, execution and monitoring. The prolonged delay, observers said, has eroded public trust and highlighted systemic challenges in implementing critical infrastructure projects in the state.
The incomplete Dimapur-Kohima four-lane project, once touted as a game-changer, has now become a reminder of the pressing need for accountability and renewed commitment towards completing major infrastructure works in Nagaland.