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TR Zeliang and his colleagues along with government officials at the foundation stone dedication ceremony at Zion Hospital junction on Jan 17. (EM Images)[/caption]
CM assures penalty for contractors if quality road not made
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Jan. 17 (EMN): The chief minister of Nagaland TR Zeliang has dedicated the construction of the Dimapur-Kohima road, specifically from the Purana Bazaar junction to Chathe Bridge (four lane) and from New Field Check Gate Golaghat Road to Purana Bazaar, a two-lane construction.
Zeliang was addressing a ceremony at the Zion Hospital junction on Jan. 17 during which foundation stones for construction of said roads were dedicated.
The chief minister said it was the first project from the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme (SARDP). After meeting with the minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, INR 509.08 cr. was sanctioned, Zeliang said.
Zeliang has assured the public that if they were to face any problems or was not satisfied with the road construction, then to “voice out (sic) and speak up” for which the CM would take necessary action against the contractor if good quality roads are not constructed.
The chief minister informed that TK Engineering from Arunachal Pradesh acquired the contract after tenders were submitted. Funds amounting to INR 279.39 cr. was sanctioned for the 17.30 KM road within Dimapur (New Field Check Gate to Zion hospital junction, a two lane road, which is 4.4 kms; and from Zion hospital junction to Chathe bridge, a four-lane road of 12.90 kms).
Zeliang talked about the problems faced by the government, contractors and public for the past 10 years. He said only “local people” acquiring the contract was not the norm for national highways.
“It should be done through global tenders,” said Zeliang. Another example why the construction was taking time was due to the govt. not being able to acquire land from landowners, the chief minister said. He admitted that due to “football friendly matches played” (conflict in the party) in the NPF, ministers also keep changing.
He informed that only after speaking with various tribal organisations and NGOs, they decide on tenders. “ECI company from Hyderabad has taken up the contract and issued tenders to land owners who have given the permission for road construction which falls under the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Cooperation Limited (NHIDCL) now,” Zeliang said.
Speaking about the Nuiland-Zhadima road, Zeliang said that INR 324 cr. was the allotment for the project but due to the same problems as providing compensation to landowners, the work has stalled.
“We need to ensure availability of land and extend cooperation to enable timely completion of these projects with quality. There will be no provision for cutting of jungle and forest land but for private homes, compensation will be provided by the government,” Zeliang said.
The chief minister has informed the public the state's government has adopted the Nagaland Road Maintenance Policy of 2017 'to ensure proper maintenance of roads.'
The guest of honour for the ceremony was Y Vikheho Swu, minister for PWD (national highways). He has said that the cooperation of the public and the department's supervision were required for accomplishing the project 'as the government will face a lot of problems.'
With the Act East policy in place, he said, a whooping 20 thousand crore had been allotted to the state. “There is no time to keep fighting and arguing. We need cooperation from the public to move ahead,” Swu said.
Village authorities and public leaders from various villages that run across the proposed construction part of National Highway 39 attended the ceremony.