Gauhati High Court directs Authority Engineer to explain slow progress on NH-29 Kohima-Jessami road Package-II.
DIMAPUR — Work on Package-II of the two-lane NH-29 Kohima-Jessami road has advanced by only 0.69 percentage points in the three weeks since the previous court hearing, even as public pressure has mounted for termination of the contractor and fresh tendering.
Physical progress on the 21.90-km stretch stood at 45.11% as of September, compared to 44.42% reported before the Gauhati High Court’s Kohima Bench on September 9. Financial progress remained unchanged at 43.63%.
The court on Wednesday directed the Authority Engineer monitoring the project to submit a comprehensive report explaining the delay, observing that “the progress of the work is not satisfactory”.
The development comes days after the Chakhesang Students' Union (CSU) sealed the base camp of contractor Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd. at North Kikruma on September 25, demanding termination of the contract and fresh tendering of the remaining work. The union had also issued a 72-hour ultimatum in connection with the demand.
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During Wednesday’s hearing, counsel for Ratna Infrastructure Projects highlighted several issues which, he submitted, had prevented progress of the work. The contractor also filed an affidavit setting out its contentions.
The court directed the Authority Engineer appointed on behalf of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and NHIDCL to consider the contractor’s submissions and file a comprehensive affidavit on the actual reasons for the delay.
The project was awarded to Ratna Infrastructure Projects on October 10, 2023. The contract agreement was signed on December 21, 2023, and the appointed date was January 5, 2024. The work was scheduled to be completed within 24 months.
Although the Authority Engineer is not a party to the PIL filed by the Chakhesang Public Organisation and another, the court noted that the officer is monitoring execution of the project. It directed the Authority Engineer to remain personally present at the next hearing to assist the court in the disposal of the case.
The affidavit has to be filed by November 13, and the matter has been listed for November 18.