Nagaland government forms team to verify NH-702 alignment amid objections

KOHIMA — A meeting to deliberate on the alignment of the proposed NH-702 (Longleng–Longching–Mon–Tizit) two-lane road project was held on Thursday in Kohima, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of National Highways and Planning and Transformation, TR Zeliang.

The meeting was convened following a representation submitted by the Tobu-Mopong-Longchang Joint Committee for NH-702.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Zeliang informed that three options had been proposed for the alignment of the NH-702 stretch between Longleng, Longching, Aboi, Mon, and Tizit. However, he said that landowners from 45 villages had raised objections and insisted that only Option 1 should be considered.

According to the deputy chief minister, the landowners expressed that they wanted a national highway and not a border road. He added that while the NHIDCL had stated that Option 3 was shorter and technically better, the final decision would be taken only after a thorough technical verification.

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Zeliang said that a joint verification team—comprising the chief engineer of PWD (NH), executive director of NHIDCL, commissioner and secretary, deputy commissioner, and representatives of the affected public—had been constituted earlier. The team, along with consultants, will now carry out a site verification and submit a report before a final decision is made.

Those invited to the meeting included MLAs Nyamnyei Konyak, Naiba Konyak, and C Manpon Konyak; Chief Engineers of PWD (NH) and PWD (R&B); Executive Director (P) of NHIDCL; Regional Officer, NHIDCL Kohima; and representatives from Konyak Union (Mopong unit) and Konyak Union (Longchang unit), as well as landowners from seven affected villages—Sowa Changle, Sowa, L/Hongnyu, Longchang, Longchang Town, Mohung, and Mohung Changai.

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