MP S Supongmeren Jamir flags highway safety lapses, project delays and drainage issues, warning contractors of possible termination
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KOHIMA — Lok Sabha MP S Supongmeren Jamir on Saturday expressed concern over delays in highway projects, inadequate road safety measures and poor drainage maintenance in NHIDCL projects across Nagaland, warning that contractors who fail to meet stipulated targets could face termination.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhavan, Kohima, after inspecting National Highways projects undertaken by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Jamir said that intensive inspections were conducted on May 28 and 29 along the Dimapur-Kohima stretch and the Kohima-Jessami road.
He acknowledged that natural calamities had posed challenges for contractors and executing agencies but maintained that they must be prepared to deal with such situations and complete projects within the stipulated timeframe.
Jamir said that the inspection team focused on road safety measures and found that traffic signage and safety infrastructure from the Assam border to Kohima were below NHIDCL standards.
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"We have asked NHIDCL to strictly enforce its guidelines and ensure that the same standards maintained in other states are implemented in Nagaland," he said.
The MP also highlighted poor drainage maintenance as a major concern, stating that contractors often neglect drainage systems after road construction, leading to damage to road infrastructure.
He stressed that issues identified during the two-day inspection should be addressed within the prescribed timelines.
Jamir further flagged concerns over the condition of road dividers along the Dimapur-Kohima highway and said unauthorised openings created for access to hotels, shops, farms and private properties were posing serious safety risks.
According to him, many of these openings were made without NHIDCL approval, resulting in unsafe crossings and contributing to accidents on the highway.
He said that all such works should follow due procedures and receive NHIDCL clearance to ensure proper signage, lighting and safety measures.
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Expressing optimism over ongoing projects, Jamir said that most road works under NHIDCL were expected to be completed by the end of this year.
However, he noted that the Kohima Bypass project would require additional time because bridges remain incomplete and certain land disputes are yet to be resolved.
He added that the district administration and the state government were making efforts to expedite the bypass project, which is expected to significantly ease traffic congestion in Kohima upon completion.
Referring to the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane project, Jamir said that the contractor responsible for the stretch between Patkai Bridge and Medziphema had been terminated over poor workmanship. A local contractor has since been engaged for maintenance work.
He also cautioned commuters to remain vigilant along the Patkai Bridge-Kukidolong stretch, where only one lane is currently operational due to recurring rockfalls from the hillside.
To address the issue, NHIDCL has proposed constructing a bridge across the river to bypass the vulnerable section and widen the roadway, he said.
The MP also expressed concern over reports of theft of Medium Cast Barrier Components (MCBC) and steel road signboards, particularly in the Dimapur area, saying such acts endangered public safety.
He urged district authorities, village councils and the public to help curb such thefts and also appealed to residents not to block roadside drainage channels without approval while constructing approach roads. He claimed that more than 45 cases of drainage blockage had been identified in Dimapur alone.
Kohima-Jessami road under scrutiny
Jamir said that the inspection team also reviewed progress on the Kohima-Jessami road project.
He pointed out that the stretch from BSF Camp Junction in Kohima to Chakhabama was riddled with potholes and blocked drains. According to him, the contractor assured the team that all potholes would be repaired and drainage cleared within 20 days.
He described Package-II of the project, from Chakhabama to RD Block in Kikruma, as a critical section. The original contractor was terminated and replaced, with the new contractor tasked with completing the work by January 2026.
However, Jamir said that only 42% of the work had been completed so far, leaving 58% pending.
During the inspection, attended by officials of the district administration, the Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO), the Chakhesang Students' Union (CSU), NHIDCL and the contractor, a target was set to complete 80% of the remaining work by September 2026.
According to Jamir, the contractor had assured deployment of additional labourers and machinery to accelerate progress. He warned that failure to meet the revised targets could result in termination of the contract.
He added that repairs to the bridge below RD Block, Kikruma, were expected to be completed and the structure reopened to traffic by June 20.