NPP seeks permanent solution for NH-29

National People’s Party (NPP), Nagaland has expressed deep concern over the recurring rockfalls and landslides on the Dimapur–Kohima four-lane national highway-29 (NH 29), that had claimed several lives and substantial damage to property.
In a press release, the NPP pointed out that several vulnerable stretches – particularly Pagala Pahar, the KMC dumping site area, and Kisama- continued to suffer from rockfalls, subsidence, and road collapses, resulting in accidents and fatalities.
While construction and maintenance works were ongoing, NPP noted the absence of scientific slope stabilisation, robust drainage, and preventive engineering solutions which continued to pose grave risk to commuters.
Citing reports over the past few years, which indicated multiple fatal rockfall incidents and several injuries along on NH-29 Dimapur–Kohima corridor, NPP urged the government to publish authenticated, year-wise casualty data to avoid ambiguity and ensure accountability.
NPP said the highway was especially hazardous during the monsoon period, which necessitated extreme caution and strict adherence to travel advisories.
It maintained that the fatal rockfall at Pagala Pahar on May 30 this year once again underscored the urgent need for comprehensive, science-based, long-term safety measures.
NPP lamented that temporary fixes such as traffic diversions and limited rockfall barriers had clearly been insufficient during periods of intense rainfall.
In this regard, the NPP state unit informed that it has submitted a detailed memorandum to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Guwahati Regional Office, and the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) on Tuesday.
In the memorandum, NPP highlighted the urgent need for permanent slope stabilisation and debris control systems, district-level monitoring and reporting mechanisms, community safety education and signage enhancement, and inclusion of local geotechnical expertise in project planning
Further, NPP urged the NHIDCL and MoRTH to immediately prioritise permanent slope protection, advanced rockfall barriers/nets, and early warning systems, including real time monitoring and public alert mechanisms.
While seeking comprehensive safety audits and continuous maintenance of all vulnerable stretches, with focused attention on Pagala Pahar, Pherima, and Chümoukedima, NPP sought enhanced safety infrastructure such as visible cautionary signage, speed regulation, properly marked escape bays/lay-bys, and rapid emergency response mechanisms along the highway.
NPP also demanded public disclosure of a time-bound action plan and a live progress dashboard, so that citizens could track mitigation works, closures, diversions, and safety interventions in real time.
It also called upon the monitoring mechanism established by the state government to constantly supervise work progress and ensure timely rectifications, so that no lapse or complacency by implementing agencies jeopardised public safety.
NPP said lives and safety of commuters could not be compromised due to construction deficiencies or inadequate preventive measures and expressed solidarity with the affected families and reaffirmed its commitment to pursue the issue with all authorities concerned –both the centre and state- until sustainable, lasting solutions were implemented.