A highway without end

The prolonged delay in completing the four-lane highway on NH-29 from Purana Bazar in East Dimapur to Kohima via Sechu stands as a glaring example of administrative failure and poor execution. What was once projected as a vital lifeline to improve connectivity and boost economic activity has instead become a source of danger, frustration, and public anger. Nearly a decade has passed since work began around 2015 or 2016, yet the project remains unfinished, with even the so called completed stretches failing to meet basic safety standards. The portion between East Dimapur and Kiruphema, often cited as completed, continues to pose serious risks. Debris from unstable hill slopes frequently blocks the road, turning daily travel into a hazardous exercise. The memory of the 2024 rock and mudslide, which claimed at least six lives, remains a painful reminder of the consequences of neglect. Such tragedies are not isolated incidents but symptoms of deeper structural and administrative lapses that have not been addressed with the seriousness they deserve. Complaints about poor workmanship and violations of environmental norms have persisted for years. In many stretches, the promised four lane highway has been reduced to a narrow two lane road, defeating the very purpose of the project. Even this reduced width comes with its own dangers. Sudden diversions without proper warning force drivers into risky maneuvers, often leading to collisions with oncoming vehicles. The placement of signage on only one end of a diversion is not just careless but irresponsible, and it has already resulted in numerous accidents, some of them fatal. Equally alarming is the failure to address the issue of unstable slopes. Rockfalls, landslides and flash floods resulting in mudslide have become a routine hazard along this route, yet there appears to be no effective or lasting solution from the executing agency. In other parts of the country, such repeated lapses would have triggered strict accountability measures, including criminal negligence cases against contractors and officials. The absence of such action here sends a troubling message that public safety can be compromised without consequence. The scale of delay further underlines the seriousness of the issue. A 72 kilometer stretch taking nearly ten years and still incomplete is unacceptable by any standard. This becomes even more stark when compared to similar projects elsewhere. The four lane highway between Guwahati and Shillong, covering over 60 kilometers, was completed in about five years despite facing comparable terrain challenges. The contrast exposes not just inefficiency but a lack of urgency and accountability in the execution the four-lane on NH-29.The state government should no longer remain a passive observer, limiting itself to expressions of concern. It must take decisive steps to protect public interest. Initiating legal action against the implementing agency for negligence is not an extreme measure but a necessary one. At the same time, a clear deadline must be enforced, with the project mandated for completion by early 2027. For the people of Nagaland, this highway is more than just a road. It is a critical link that affects daily life, trade, and emergency services. The continued delay not only causes inconvenience but also imposes economic costs on transporters and businesses while putting lives at risk. Ending this prolonged ordeal requires firm action, strict accountability, and a commitment to ensuring that such a vital project is finally completed with the standards it originally promised.