“The proposed road of 18.85 Km to connect Peren District Road (Ngwalwa) and National Highway-39 (Chümoukedima) remained incomplete even after a lapse of more than 10 years leading to unfruitful expenditure of Rs 9.21 crore and non-fulfilment of the intended objective,” revealed the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in its Social, Economic, General and Revenue Sector for the year ended 31 March 2022 report

The project funded under 10 per cent Lumpsum Provision for Development of North Eastern States was sanctioned by the Ministry of Urban Development (MOUD), Gol for Rs 13.41 crore with 90:10 funding pattern between Central (12.07 crore) and State (1.34 crore) Governments.

According to the MOUD Scheme guidelines any increase in the project cost was to be covered by the State Government and no Central assistance would be given for that purpose, and further the State Government must ensure that land is available free of cost and free from encumbrances.

Examination of records in December 2020 revealed that the project was approved (March 2009) by MOUD for the stretch of 18.85 Km. In order to start the work in different stretches simultaneously, the Urban Development Department (UDD), Government of Nagaland (GON) divided the project into three packages comprising of Package-I (0.00 Km to 9.00 Km), Package-II (9.00 Km to 13.30 Km) and Package-III (13.30 Km to 18.85 Km).

“It was observed that there was delay on the part of the implementing Department in obtaining Technical approval from the Chief Engineer (CE), Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges), Nagaland as the Detailed Estimates and Draft Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) was forwarded to CE office only in December 2009,” highlighted the CAG.

The Department invited tender in January 2010 where the work was awarded to three contractors for Rs 12.86 crore after a delay of 12 months, stipulated to be completed within 24 months i.e. February 2012.

The CAG’s further examination of records disclosed that Gol released its entire share of Rs 12.07 crore to the State and GoN in turn released (between June 2010 to November 2018) Rs 13.07 crore (Gol share Rs 11.78 crore + GoN share Rs 1.29 crore) to the Executive Engineer (EE), UDD, Kohima, Nagaland.

“The Department paid (November 2020) an amount of Rs 9.01 crore to the contractors. Against Gol share of Rs 12.07 crore released, GON released only Rs 11.78 crore resulting in short release of 0.29 crore. The State Government also did not release its share of Rs 0.05 crore to the implementing Department. Further, without the construction of two minor bridges, the overall completion of the project cannot be achieved. The Department also did not ensure that land was free from encumbrances,” divulged the CAG.

In December 2020, the Audit team along with the Engineers (Sub-Divisional Officer and Junior Engineer) of the EE, UDD conducted a joint physical verification of the project and found that the construction of the road was incomplete with no connecting bridges. “It is evident that the DPR was prepared without any field survey leading to change in the alignment, need for execution of additional works and land disputes. Deficiencies in planning, survey and not ensuring encumbrance-free land before award of work resulted in delay in completion of the project for more than 10 years from the stipulated date of completion,” stated the CAG.

Thus, the expenditure of Rs 9.21 crore incurred on the project remains unfruitful and the objective of the Government to provide better road connectivity remains unachieved.

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Project to be handed over to NHIDCL

In September 2022, the Department apprised that the State Government has decided (July 2022) to hand over the entire stretch of the road to National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Gol for Construction of new NH-129A under Nagaland Peren- Jalukie- Mhainamtsi- Heningkunglwa- Khouva River Bridge (Chumukedima)- Dimapur. Accordingly, joint inspection comprising of UDD and NHIDCL officials was conducted for the portion of Peren-Dimapur Road Package-IV Ngalwa junction (Peren)- Khouva Bridge-10.25 Km. However, final handing over of the road is yet to be done due to want of No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the District Administration (Chümoukedima and Peren districts).

The matter was reported to the State Government (July 2022) and the State Government also accepted the facts and endorsed (October 2022) the reply furnished by the Department.

Recommendations

In its recommendations, the CAG suggested the State Government to ensure that DPR is prepared after detailed survey and all requisite clearances obtained before award of work. Besides, responsibility may be fixed on the Departmental Officers for the faulty planning and survey.

It further recommended that the Department earmark resources to complete the balance portion of the incomplete work so that the objective of the project is fulfilled without further delay.