A stretch of the Kohima-Jessami Road Package-II (Chakhabama-Kikruma stretch) under NH-29 (Old NH-150).
Pfutsero, June 9 (MExN): The Pfutsero Town Business Association (PTBA) has submitted a representation to the Managing Director, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) Headquarters, New Delhi, seeking urgent intervention, a high-level review and accountability in respect of the prolonged delay in the completion of the Kohima-Jessami Road Package-II (Chakhabama-Kikruma stretch) under NH-29 (Old NH-150).
In its representation, PTBA President Vekusu Chuzho and General Secretary Truvi Rhi highlighted that the project, covering a design length of 21.90 kilometres between Chakhabama and Kikruma, was originally tendered under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Programme in 2019 and was awarded in March, 2020.
“Despite the passage of more than five years, the stretch remains incomplete, causing serious inconvenience and hardship to the public, transporters, businesses, farmers, students, government employees, and commuters across Pfutsero, Phek District and the wider Chakhesang region,” it stated.
“The available official records indicate that the original contract awarded to M/s KCPL carried a completion target of June 20, 2022,” the associated noted. “However, due to failure to complete the project within the stipulated period, the contract was subsequently terminated after achieving only 58.08% physical progress and 54.08% financial progress.” The balance work was later awarded to M/s Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd., with a Date of Award of October 10, 2023 and an Appointed Date of January 5, 2024.
The association further noted that according to the latest project status published on NHIDCL's official monitoring platform, the project presently records only 40% cumulative physical progress and 40% cumulative financial progress, while the Original Scheduled Completion Date is recorded as January 4, 2026. PTBA observed that these figures raise legitimate concerns regarding the pace of execution and the effectiveness of project monitoring and supervisory mechanisms.
Expressing concern over the prolonged delay, PTBA stated that more than five years have elapsed since the project was first tendered, yet a stretch of only 21.90 kilometres remains incomplete. “The deteriorated condition of the road has resulted in increased transportation costs, disruption of commercial activities, delays in the movement of goods and essential commodities, repeated vehicle damage, increased maintenance expenditure, and avoidable financial hardship to the public,” it observed.
The association further submitted that the circumstances surrounding the project indicate serious deficiencies in planning, execution, monitoring, supervision and enforcement, both at the level of project implementation and oversight.
Therefore, PTBA has requested NHIDCL to constitute a “High-Level Review Committee or Special Review Mechanism to examine the present status of the project, identify the causes of delay, assess the performance of all concerned agencies, and recommend appropriate corrective measures for its expeditious completion.”
It also urged NHIDCL to undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation process, ensure that adequate accountability is fixed wherever warranted in accordance with applicable contractual and administrative provisions, strengthen monitoring and supervisory mechanisms, and ensure strict adherence to revised timelines so that the project may be completed without any further avoidable delay.
PTBA expressed hope that NHIDCL would take cognisance of the concerns raised and initiate appropriate measures in the larger public interest to ensure the early completion of this nationally significant infrastructure project.
