Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has strongly criticized the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) for taking shortcuts in the construction of National Highway-29, which he believes has led to a series of disasters affecting the Naga people.
Speaking to the media after inspecting landslide and mudslide-affected areas at Paglapahar, Pherima, and Tsiepama Model-Piphema along NH-29, Rio held NHIDCL accountable for the recent tragedy that claimed six lives near Pherima on Tuesday night.
Rio emphasized that the state government was taking the matter seriously, having filed an FIR against NHIDCL.
He pointed out that the corporation ignored project specifications, failing to meet required construction standards. Specifically, NHIDCL was supposed to cut 40 meters into the mountains, but instead opted for a route closer to the riverbank.
This decision led to road sinking in key areas. Even when the road was built near the riverside, Rio explained, proper safety measures such as piling, piping, and reinforcement were not implemented, which could have mitigated the disaster.
The chief minister highlighted that NHIDCL began construction on the foundation of the old road without reinforcing it, further exacerbating the problem. The failure of this approach was evident at Pagla Pahar, where a section of the road, constructed over filled earth, was washed away by the river. Upon inspecting the site, Rio noted that blacktopping had been done over unstable ground, a clear sign of negligence.
Rio reiterated his earlier warnings about the unsustainability of the roadwork, lamenting the loss of lives and the hardships travelers face. He assured the public that the state government was actively working to resolve the issue and had secured NHIDCL’s commitment to reopen the road to traffic as soon as possible.
Rio revealed that he had informed Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, about the poor execution of the project. In response, Gadkari suggested issuing a non-bailable arrest warrant against NHIDCL officials responsible for the negligence. Rio stated that the officials were sternly warned about the gravity of the situation and the impact on the Naga people.
Expressing the state government’s frustration, Rio said NHIDCL had been given deadlines to fix the issues, and he would personally oversee the progress. He also disclosed that a detailed discussion with NHIDCL’s managing director was scheduled for September 8.
On Wednesday, Rio held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who oversees national highways, along with NHIDCL officials and other concerned parties to address the ongoing road challenges. Rio expressed disappointment that during the monsoon preparedness meeting, no concerns were raised about the vulnerability of the road.
According to sources, a joint survey by officials from the Public Works Department (NH), district administration, and others had taken place on August 16.
They recommended urgent protection works on the river valley side to NHIDCL, which had not been acted upon. Rio also discussed alternative routes, such as the Pimla-Mhainamtsi route between Dimapur and Kohima, acknowledging the problems Naga travellers face on NH-29.
He said he had informed both the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) about the situation and would write a personal letter requesting Central funding for blacktopping the Pimla-Mhainamtsi and Piphema to Tsiese Basa (Highway 61) routes to ensure smooth traffic flow.
When asked about the delay in the Capital Road project, Rio echoed Deputy CM Zeliang’s statement at the recent Assembly, explaining that landowners were demanding compensation, which was not included in the project. He deferred further questions to Zeliang, noting that it was the minister’s responsibility to address the issue.
The chief minister was accompanied by senior government officials during his inspection of the affected areas. According to the DIPR reprot, Rio instructed officials to ensure that at least one lane of NH-29 between Dimapur-Kohima is operational soon to facilitate the transport of essential goods.
Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Advisor Zhaleo Rio also conducted an on-site inspection of the landslide-affected areas at Pherima and Kukidolong.