NSF demands removal of NHIDCL from Dimapur-Kohima highway

DIMAPUR, SEP 13 (NPN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has expressed serious concern over the alleged poor workmanship, prolonged delays, inadequate maintenance and negligence by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in executing and maintaining National Highway projects across Nagaland, particularly the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane highway.
In a statement, NSF president Mteisuding and general secretary Kenilo Kent said commuters had witnessed continuous deterioration of the vital highway over the past four to five years, with inadequate maintenance and little evidence of effective monsoon preparedness.
It particularly highlighted the Medziphema-Peducha stretch, alleging that damaged road surfaces, inadequate drainage, deteriorating side structures, poor slope protection and delayed restoration works had exposed commuters to life-threatening risks, especially during monsoon and night-time travel.
The federation claimed that several people had lost their lives and others sustained serious injuries in rockfalls and other road-related incidents, which it attributed to alleged negligence and failure by NHIDCL and its contractors to ensure proper safety, slope stabilisation, maintenance and timely remedial measures. NSF said the Medziphema-Peducha stretch was among the most vital sections of NH-29 connecting Dimapur and Kohima and could not be allowed to remain a continuing threat to commuters.
The federation also questioned the issuance of the Completion Certificate for Package-II of the Dimapur-Kohima project despite several works allegedly remaining incomplete.
It questioned how the project could have been certified as complete when significant components were pending and the road continued to exhibit serious deficiencies. The matter, it said, warranted an immediate inquiry by competent authorities, particularly the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH).
Although the project was covered under a five-year Defect Liability Period (DLP), the NSF alleged that NHIDCL had failed to ensure repair and rectification of defects. It said collapsing side walls, inadequate drainage, poor slope protection, damaged road surfaces and deficiencies in road-safety infrastructure remained visible at various locations.
The federation also expressed concern over the lack of proper monsoon preparedness, including preventive drainage maintenance, slope stabilisation, erosion control, retaining structures and emergency-response mechanisms. “A highway of such strategic importance cannot be managed through a reactive approach after damage has already occurred,” it said.
NSF said it had previously highlighted concerns over negligence and maintenance of the project in its August 19 statement, including inadequate safety barriers, poor road furniture, insufficient reflective markers, warning signages and other ancillary works.
It added that similar complaints regarding alleged compromised workmanship and delays had emerged from several NHIDCL projects across the State, including the Kohima Bypass, Kohima-Mao Road, Dimapur Bypass, slope protection works along NH-29, Akash Bridge-Jessami Road (NH-202), and Peren-Dimapur Section (NH-129A) Packages II and III.
NSF urged MoRTH to initiate an inquiry into the Dimapur-Kohima highway, investigate the circumstances surrounding the Package-II Completion Certificate, ensure immediate rectification of defects under the DLP and fix responsibility on officials, consultants and contractors wherever negligence or substandard work was established.
It further urged MoRTH to take appropriate contractual and disciplinary action against contractors responsible for defective or incomplete works.
Most importantly, in the larger public interest and safety of commuters, the federation called upon the Government of Nagaland and MoRTH to terminate NHIDCL as the implementing agency for the Dimapur-Kohima stretch and entrust the responsibility to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or State PWD (National Highways), as deemed appropriate.
Describing the Dimapur-Kohima highway as a critical lifeline for the people of Nagaland and neighbouring states, the NSF said public safety and interest could not be compromised by institutional considerations.
It called upon MoRTH to take decisive and time-bound measures to ensure a safe, durable and properly maintained highway.
The federation said it would continue to monitor NHIDCL projects across the State and warned that if alleged negligence and poor workmanship continued, it would be compelled to initiate “appropriate democratic measures and necessary course of action” in the larger interest of the Naga people.