DIMAPUR, SEP 30 (NPN): Ao Senden has urged the state government to impress upon the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to revisit its decision approving the existing alignment of National Highway 702D and ensure a two-lane highway along the entire Mokokchung-Mariani stretch without any bottleneck.
In a representation to deputy chief minister in-charge of Planning & Transformation and National Highways, Ao Senden president Marsanen Imsong and general secretary Imtipokyim said the re-alignment of NH-702D had been pending since 2021.
It said four options were discussed at a meeting on September 16, 2021, at the office of the principal secretary Works & Housing. These included the existing road (Option I), Changki X Junction via Mekokla (Option II), Changki X Junction via Mangkolemba/Old British Road/Chungliyimsen (Option III), and Longjenkong (New Camp) via Mangkolemba/Tunnel Road (Option IV).
According to Ao Senden, Options III and IV were recommended for further consideration. However, Changki Village Council reportedly refused to issue an NOC for Option III, citing the proposed alignment passing through its Bio Reserve Zone.
The organisation said a High Level Technical Team of PWD (National Highways) subsequently held a meeting with Ao Senden, Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) and other stakeholders at the DC’s office in Mokokchung on July 11, 2022.
Except for Changki Village Council, the participants recommended Option IV in the interest of people of Mokokchung, Zunheboto and the eastern districts dependent on the highway.
It said despite the recommendation, the Chief Engineer, PWD (National Highways), directed MARC Technocrats Pvt. Ltd. in February 2024 to modify and resubmit its re-alignment report.
Ao Senden said a stakeholder meeting involving the organisation, concerned villages, PWD (NH), MARC Technocrats and district administration was subsequently held at the DC’s conference hall on November 20, 2024. It said the stakeholders again unanimously recommended Option IV of Section III of the modified re-alignment.
The Senden said it had submitted representations to the Chief Engineer, PWD (NH), Chief Engineer (NE) and the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways between July 2024 and July 2025, while the Civil Society Organisation, Mangkolemba, had also submitted a representation to the Chief Secretary in June 2025. It said no response had been received to its requests for approval of Option IV.
Ao Senden further stated that the minutes of the meeting (MoM) of a MoRTH meeting held on July 23, 2026, under the chairmanship of DG (RD) & SS approved the existing road alignment of NH-702D. It said it subsequently wrote to the concerned authority on August 19 seeking reconsideration of the decision.
The organisation pointed out that the existing road alignment had been rejected during the September 2021 meeting because Options I and II were considered unsuitable in terms of terrain and distance.
Ao Senden also referred to the MoM, which stated that the consultant had informed the meeting that different tribes of Changki village were demanding that the alignment pass through their established settlements. However, it said MARC Technocrats Ltd., in a letter dated September 14, 2026, clarified that it had made no such statement to MoRTH or any other higher authority.
The organisation said forcing a two-lane configuration through the existing road between chainage 39.620 km and 42 km could result in a stretch similar to the Paglaphar section of NH-29 between Dimapur and Kohima, which it said would pose concerns for safety and convenience.
It cited a ruling of the Kerala High Court in Pauly Vadakkan vs Corporation of Chennai & 15 Ors., stating that development activities by the NHAI could not be undertaken at the cost of the convenience and lives of people.
Ao Senden said its Sanen Luden (executive committee) meeting on September 15, 2026, resolved that NH-702D, described as the lifeline of Mokokchung, Zunheboto and the eastern districts, should be a two-lane highway without any bottleneck throughout its entire stretch.
It said any configuration of less than two lanes at any point would not be acceptable and that it would not support any of the survey options made available so far if they resulted in bottlenecks.
Ao Senden also highlighted Mangkolemba’s infrastructure needs and said a two-lane highway passing through the subdivision would provide a major boost to economic development.
It therefore urged the deputy chief minister to intervene and impress upon the Union Minister and MoRTH to revisit the July 23 decision and approve an entire two-lane NH-702D from Mokokchung to Mariani without any bottleneck.
Thursday, October 1, 2026