Dimapur, 5 July (MTNews): The ongoing 4-laning project of Dimapur-Kohima National Highway-29, initiated in 2016 under the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE), has once again come under scrutiny after the tragic incident on 4 July resulted in loss of lives and serious injuries.
The Rising People’s Party (RPP), while sharing its grief over the unfortunate incident, raised questions regarding the roles of all parties involved, including the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the construction firms and contractors, the consultancy firm, and the State Public Works Department (PWD).
Highlighting the unfortunate loss of lives in previous accidents on the same stretch, the RPP criticized the lack of corrective measures, attributing the repetitive accidents to faulty construction methods and poor road maintenance. The party pointed out that civil society organizations had issued warnings and submitted representations to the authorities, but their concerns were ignored. The indifferent attitude of the concerned authority to a genuine concern is uncalled for, it added.
Drawing a comparison, the RPP emphasized that while Dimapur-Kohima NH-29 has become notorious as a “death trap” for travelers, neighboring Meghalaya with similar hilly terrain, enjoys well-planned and executed roads. With the completion of Dimapur-Kohima NH-29 still a distant goal and visible cracks and exposed rocks posing imminent dangers, the party demanded urgent action from the government of the day.
The Rising People’s Party demanded proper compensation for the deceased, immediate medical assistance for the injured, and urged the government to address the issue seriously. They emphasized the need for thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible for the project’s shortcomings, as well as a comprehensive review of the road conditions and implementation of adequate safety infrastructure to prevent future disasters.
“The RPP will not shy away from seeking justice in the Court to protect its citizens if concrete steps are not adopted by the Government of the day. In the name of development, the safety of the people cannot be compromised,” RPP stated.