The NSF said commuters face serious safety risks on the highway, particularly during the monsoon and at night
KRC TIMES NE Desk
KOHIMA | The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged the Centre and Nagaland government to replace the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) as the implementing agency for the Dimapur-Kohima stretch of NH-29, alleging poor workmanship, prolonged delays and inadequate maintenance.
In a statement issued on September 13, the federation called for the project to be handed over to either the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or the state Public Works Department (National Highways).
The NSF said commuters face serious safety risks on the highway, particularly during the monsoon and at night. It alleged that rockfalls and other road-related incidents linked to inadequate safety measures and slope stabilisation had resulted in deaths and serious injuries.
The federation highlighted the Medziphema-Peducha stretch, citing damaged road surfaces, inadequate drainage, deteriorating roadside structures, poor slope protection and delays in restoration work.
It also called for an immediate inquiry by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways into the execution and maintenance of the project. The NSF questioned the issuance of a completion certificate for Package-II despite what it described as incomplete works and continuing deficiencies on the highway.
The federation further alleged that NHIDCL had failed to adequately repair defects during the project’s five-year defect liability period. It cited collapsing side walls, inadequate drainage, poor slope protection, damaged road surfaces and gaps in road-safety infrastructure.
The NSF also criticised what it termed inadequate monsoon preparedness, alleging deficiencies in drainage maintenance, slope stabilisation, erosion control, retaining structures and emergency-response mechanisms.
Concerns over other NHIDCL projects
The federation said complaints related to workmanship, delays and maintenance had also emerged in several other NHIDCL projects across Nagaland.
These include the Kohima Bypass, Kohima-Mao Road, Dimapur Bypass, slope protection works along NH-29, Akash Bridge-Jessami Road (NH-202), and the Peren-Dimapur section of NH-129A under Packages II and III.
The NSF urged the authorities to address the alleged deficiencies and ensure greater accountability in the execution and maintenance of national highway projects in the state.
