Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of National Highways, TR Zeliang, said that the state government plans to amend the Nagaland Land (Acquisition & Requisition) Act of 1965 specifically for National Highway Projects. According to a report from AIR News Kohima, Zeliang said, the amendment will be adopted in line with the National Highway Act 1956 and RFCTLAAR Act 2013 in the next State Assembly Session.
Addressing issues raised by the union ministry, Zeliang highlighted land acquisition as a major challenge hindering the smooth execution of highway projects in the state. He pointed out that the Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road project has remained incomplete even after eight years of work.
In light of these challenges, Zeliang requested the union ministry to send an official technical team for on-spot verification and necessary action to expedite the completion of the crucial highway project.
It may be noted that the progress of 29 National Highway (NH) projects covering 545 kms in Nagaland was reviewed by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, alongside Union MoS Ajay Tamta, Nagaland Deputy CM TR Zeliang, and senior officials in Delhi on Monday, October 21. According to Gadkari, during the meeting, they stressed the need to accelerate mobility infrastructure development in Nagaland, prioritizing sustainability and cost-efficiency.
