Dimapur: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged Centre and Nagaland govt to replace National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) as the implementing agency for the Dimapur-Kohima stretch of NH-29, alleging poor workmanship, prolonged delays and inadequate maintenance.In a release dated Sept 13, the federation said commuters faced serious risks on the highway, particularly during the monsoon and at night. It alleged that several people had died and others had suffered severe injuries in rockfalls and road-related incidents linked to inadequate safety measures and poor slope stabilisation.The NSF called for the project to be handed over either to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) or state PWD (National Highways).The federation highlighted the Medziphema-Peducha stretch, alleging damaged road surfaces, inadequate drainage, deteriorating side structures, poor slope protection and delayed restoration works.It also demanded an immediate inquiry by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways into the execution and maintenance of the Dimapur-Kohima project. The probe, it said, should examine the issuance of a completion certificate for Package-II despite incomplete work and continuing deficiencies.The NSF questioned how the package was certified as complete when “significant components” were still pending and the highway continued to face problems.The federation further alleged that NHIDCL had failed to undertake adequate repairs and rectify defects during the project’s five-year defect liability period. It cited collapsing side walls, poor drainage, inadequate slope protection, damaged road surfaces and gaps in road-safety infrastructure.The NSF also criticised what it described as inadequate monsoon preparedness, including insufficient preventive drainage maintenance, slope stabilisation, erosion control, retaining structures and emergency-response arrangements.It said similar complaints regarding workmanship, delays and maintenance had emerged from several other NHIDCL projects in Nagaland, including Kohima Bypass, Kohima-Mao Road, Dimapur Bypass, slope-protection works along NH-29, Akash Bridge-Jessami Road (NH-202) and Packages II and III of the Peren-Dimapur section of NH-129A.
