DIMAPUR, SEP 2 (NPN): Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) has urged the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) to expedite restoration of National Highway-2 stretch at Phesama village, which has remained cut off since June following a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall. In a press release, KDCC president Ketseiyie Mere said the prolonged disruption has affected commuters, villagers, students and others dependent on the highway, particularly those travelling from Kohima to educational institutions in the area.
With the main route unusable, KDCC said students have been forced to rely on taxis, while the alternate route was steep and unsuitable for heavy vehicles, including college and private buses. KDCC said students were reportedly spending at least Rs 500 on a round trip by taxi, placing an additional financial burden on families and potentially affecting regular attendance and academic progress.
The committee acknowledged efforts by Phesama Village Council, Southern Angami Public Organisation and local MLAs to press NHIDCL for early restoration, but said there had been no visible physical progress despite repeated appeals.
KDCC said the Phesama road was a vital link for Southern Angami villages and neighbouring Manipur, with the disruption affecting education, transportation, healthcare, trade and livelihoods. It urged NHIDCL to undertake immediate, time-bound restoration and make the highway motorable at the earliest.
The committee also appealed to the state government and deputy chief minister in charge of national highways to provide interim transportation support to affected students through subsidised services or government vehicles until normal connectivity was restored. “Students should not have to pay the price for administrative and infrastructural delays,” KDCC said and called for immediate and visible action from the authorities.
Thursday, September 3, 2026