National Highway 29, the oldest and most critical highway in Nagaland connecting the state’s economic and political capital to the rest of Nagaland and Manipur, has “become one of the most unreliable and hazardous roads in the region,” the Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) said in a statement.
The chamber described the highway as a perilous route where “commercial vehicles traverse this stretch as if deploying tanks and military equipment in a war zone, risking collision and catastrophe at every turn.” Commuters, they added, are forced to “entrust their lives to chance, much like soldiers heading into battle.”
CNCCI highlighted the economic toll, noting that losses from damaged vehicles, delayed shipments, and spoiled perishable goods are estimated at “no less than hundreds of crores of rupees.” The statement said the suffering endured by commuters, particularly in emergency medical situations, is “beyond measure.”
The body criticized the state government for treating the highway’s maintenance as a seasonal ritual. “Much like the celebrated Hornbill Festival- where the Hon’ble Chief Minister, along with ministers and bureaucrats, leads inspection drives during the monsoon as though it were a grand event covered extensively by the media, ensuring that roads are pliable by December for the much-awaited Hornbill festival and Christmas shopping-the highway’s pliability is treated as a seasonal obligation,” CNCCI said. For the rest of the year, the highway is “neglected as if locked away until the next round of inspections,” earning it the sarcastic nickname, “December Highway.”
The chamber rejected arguments blaming unstable terrain for the recurring problems, noting that neighboring states such as Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya, which share similar topography, have successfully constructed and maintained roads that remain functional throughout the year. While the state government may attempt to shift blame onto NHIDCL, CNCCI said the “real issue lies in the government’s failure to provide proper oversight year-round and implementation of long-term planning.”
CNCCI emphasized that “it is high time this crisis is addressed with the seriousness it demands,” urging that the “December Highway must be upgraded into an all-season, four-lane highway, ensuring the safety, dignity, and economic prosperity of the people of Nagaland.”
The chamber called upon the state government, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH), NHIDCL, and other stakeholders to take “immediate, sustained action to resolve this long-standing crisis once and for all.”
Dr Khekugha Muru, Chairman, and Avi Chase, General Secretary of CNCCI, jointly signed the statement.