The state government has directed National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to make NH-29 operational within 24 hours to ensure that supply of essential commodities like petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL), and food items were not adversely affected.
This follows a high-level meeting convened and chaired by chief minister Neiphiu Rio with deputy chief minister TR Zeliang, who is in charge of National Highway, and all officials and agencies concerned on Wednesday to take stock of the situation in the wake of the landslides and damage caused to NH-29 (Dimapur-Kohima), and discuss restoration and relief measures.
The NHIDCL was also directed to take rectification measures, including deployment of latest technology to ensure that such events did not occur in the future, so that the highway between Dimapur and Kohima, which was a lifeline for both Nagaland and Manipur, was maintained throughout the year.
The meeting instructed the Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA) to release ex-gratia payment to families of the deceased and injured immediately through respective district disaster management authorities (DDMAs).
The meeting also decided to find an alternative route for plying of heavy vehicles carrying essential goods as well as for light vehicles.
It was decided that PWD (R&B) would maintain all the alternative routes as well as the route from Peducha to Tsiesema road (both light and heavy vehicles) to ensure smooth and uninterrupted connectivity between Dimapur and Kohima.