Supplementing to the question raised by MLA Achumbemo Kikon on the status of the four-lane road from Dimapur to Kohima, MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu questioned the lack of seriousness of the NHIDCL and said a criminal case should be registered against the implementing agency or that the Cabinet should take action.

MLA Kikon had raised an unstarred question on the duration for the completion of the road construction from Dimapur to Kohima and reason for delay in completing the project today in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly

In reply, the Deputy CM and Minister-in-charge, PWD (NH), mentioned that the duration for completion of the construction of four lane road from Dimapur to Kohima as per Contract Agreement are as under:

(i) Dimapur-Kohima Road, PKG-I: Likely date of completion- 31.12.2024.

(ii) Dimapur-Kohima Road, PKG-II: Project Completed on 10.06.2023.

(iii) Dimapur-Kohima Road, PKG-III (Road Works): 02 Years from the declaration of Appointed Date, scheduled competition date- 28.09.2025.

Zeliang also highlighted that the reason for delay in completing the project include:

(i) Delay in providing encumbrance and hindrance free site (ii) Unseasonal and Seasonal Rainfall (iii) Strikes, bandhs leading to adverse law and order problems (iv) Delay in Utility Shifting (v) Working Constraints due to frequent local customs and religious sentiments (vi) Delay due to COVID-19 Pandemic, landslides, sliding in Pagala Pahar area, etc.  (vii) Delay due to stoppage of work by locals (viii) Delay due to EPC Contractor’s default, Improper Planning, Inadequate Manpower (ix) Delay due to termination of 02 Nos EPC Contractor for slow progress of work and default of EPC Contractor in Dimapur-Kohima Road (PKG-III).

MLA Achumbemo Kikon then asked the Minister-in-Charge to give assurance that the work will be completed by the end of this year. “We cannot always blame nature as it is clearly seen that there is no planning in their work and they had made it difficult for the public to travel through the National Highway,” he stated.