Nagaland’s Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, also in charge of Planning & Transformation and National Highways, chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of ongoing National Highway projects and address key implementation challenges. Zeliang emphasized the importance of regular monitoring and coordination, reaffirming the state government’s commitment to prioritizing highway infrastructure for Nagaland’s development.
The meeting began with a review of the Action Taken Report from the last session, held on January 28, 2025. While several flagged concerns had been addressed, some critical issues remained unresolved, with land acquisition delays for the Peren-Dimapur (Package-V) and Kohima-Jessami (Package-II) projects being among the major setbacks.
Peren-Dimapur (Package-V): Delays in finalizing compensation for damage were attributed to the non-submission of estimates by departments such as Horticulture, Agriculture, and PWD (Housing). Furthermore, alignment corrections in certain sections added to the delays.
Chumukedima’s Deputy Commissioner assured the meeting that efforts were being made to expedite the process and submit the required details to the NHIDCL at the earliest.
Kohima-Jessami (Package-II): In light of the ongoing delays, the Deputy Chief Minister directed the contractor to commence work immediately, warning that failure to do so would lead to termination. The NHIDCL and the Deputy Commissioner of Phek also reprimanded the contractor for non-performance, highlighting the significant inconvenience caused to the public due to the stalled work.
Merangkong-Tamlu-Mon (Package-IV): NHIDCL’s Executive Director noted disruptions caused by civil society organizations, notably the Konyak Union, over concerns regarding work quality. These interruptions had led to both cost and time overruns, affecting the project’s overall timeline. Acknowledging the role of civil society as a watchdog, Deputy CM Zeliang urged stakeholders to channel grievances through formal channels instead of disrupting ongoing work. He assured that any complaints regarding project quality would be investigated by the District Administration or NHIDCL, with necessary actions taken against contractors if allegations were validated.
To further expedite progress, Zeliang announced that he would personally visit the Kohima Bypass on March 11, 2025, for an onsite inspection, aimed at resolving minor challenges faced by the contractor and NHIDCL.
The meeting saw the participation of senior officials, including Commissioner & Secretary (Works & Housing) Kesonyu IAS, Commissioner & Secretary (Land Revenue) Zasekuolie Chusi IAS, NHIDCL’s Executive Director, and Deputy Commissioners from Kohima, Chumukedima, Phek, and Meluri, along with representatives from the Peren DC Office.
(With inputs from India Today NE)