The Naga Students' Federation has officially demanded that the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited be removed as the executing agency for the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane highway project. In a public statement issued, the federation highlighted persistent issues including substandard construction standards, extended delays, and inadequate maintenance that continue to endanger everyday commuters along the route.
Concerns Over the Medziphema-Peducha Stretch
The federation specifically pointed out the alarming condition of the Medziphema-Peducha section along National Highway-29. According to the statement, multiple segments suffer from damaged road surfaces, failing drainage systems, deteriorating side structures, insufficient slope protection, and prolonged delays in executing necessary restoration work.
Commuter Safety and Monsoon Hazards
The NSF stated that travelers are routinely exposed to life-threatening conditions, particularly during nighttime hours and throughout the monsoon season. It noted that several individuals have lost their lives while others sustained severe injuries in rockfalls and related road incidents, which the organization directly attributed to inadequate safety precautions and a lack of proper slope stabilization.
Scrutiny Over Package-II Completion Certificate
The federation called for an immediate formal inquiry by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways into the execution and maintenance standards of the entire project. It questioned the validity of issuing a completion certificate for Package-II, pointing out that significant components remain unfinished and underlying deficiencies continue to plague the highway.
Defect Liability Period and Statewide Projects
Further concerns were raised regarding the five-year Defect Liability Period, with the federation alleging that the agency failed to ensure proper repair and rectification of identified faults. Issues cited include collapsing retaining walls, faulty drainage networks, damaged road surfaces, and severe shortcomings in general road safety infrastructure.
The NSF emphasized that these construction and maintenance issues are not isolated to a single route. Similar complaints have surfaced across multiple projects in Nagaland, including the Kohima Bypass, the Kohima-Mao Road, the Dimapur Bypass, slope protection works along NH-29, the Akash Bridge-Jessami Road on NH-202, and Packages II and III of the Peren-Dimapur section on NH-129A.
Action Required and Proposed Alternative Agencies
The federation urged the central ministry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Package-II completion certificate and ensure all defects are addressed under the DLP framework. It also demanded strict disciplinary and contractual action against contractors, consultants, and officials found responsible for negligence.
In its primary directive, the NSF called upon both state and central authorities to terminate the agency's role on the Dimapur-Kohima corridor and transfer project management either to the National Highways Authority of India or the state Public Works Department.
Describing the highway as a vital economic lifeline for Nagaland and surrounding states, the federation concluded that public safety must take unconditional precedence over administrative considerations.
