Nagaland Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), S Supongmeren Jamir during a meeting with NHIDCL and others on October 11. (Photo Courtesy: NPCC)
Kohima, October 12 (MExN): Nagaland’s lone Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), S Supongmeren Jamir, has raised serious concerns over the frequent blockages along the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane project, a key stretch of National Highway 29, particularly under the New Chümoukedima Village area.
During a meeting with officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in Kohima on October 11, Jamir also expressed deep concern for the inconveniences faced by the public due to recurring disruptions on the vital route.
The project was supposed to be completed by September 2025, as per a report submitted to the Ministry of DoNER, he highlighted.
Apart from the four-lane highway project, the MP also sought detailed status reports and explanations for the delays in the completion of the Kohima bypass project and the Kohima–Jessami road project.
In response, NHIDCL Executive Director (Projects) RP Singh provided an overview of all ongoing packages, citing multiple factors contributing to the delays, including natural disruptions, prolonged monsoon periods, technical and logistic challenges, and local issues.
He informed that the Dimapur bypass project and Package 2 of the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane highway project have been completed, while major portions of Package 3 are nearing completion and are expected to be finished by December 2025.
For Package 1, covering the New Chümoukedima stretch, Singh informed that protective measures to address frequent landslides have been identified, and approval for execution is awaited.
Regarding the Kohima bypass project, he acknowledged the slow progress in project implementation in Packages 1, 2, and 4, attributing the main reasons for the delays to technical challenges, tunnel distress, and local issues, respectively.
He assured that corrective measures were being initiated to address the challenges and expressed confidence that the projects would be completed within the stipulated timelines.
On the Kohima–Jessami project, most of the initial issues that hindered the smooth execution of the work have been resolved, and the project is expected to be completed within the revised completion target of September 2026, the Executive Director maintained.
As per a press release from the NPCC, Jamir stressed the need for coordinated efforts among all stakeholders and advised prompt communication with the State Government on issues affecting project progress.
He also informed that he would be holding another coordination meeting with NHIDCL officials and all involved contractors in November and requested the tabling of progress reports on all NHIDCL road development projects in Nagaland during the meeting.
Jamir concluded the meeting by assuring the officials and contractors of his full support and necessary interventions to ensure timely completion of the projects in the interest of the public.
Akuonuo Miachieo, General Secretary, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, and others accompanied the MP to the meeting, while Anand Kumar, Deputy General Manager (Projects), along with the contractors and consultants of various NHIDCL road development projects in Nagaland, attended the meeting.
