DIMAPUR — Five tribal bodies representing communities in Tuensang, Shamator, Noklak and Kiphire districts have urged Nagaland government to ensure completion of the pending Short Term Maintenance Contract (STMC) works on National Highway 202 (NH-202) by the first week of October.

In a joint representation to deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of National Highways, the tribal bodies also asked the government to keep the newly sanctioned 2026-27 STMC for NH-202 in abeyance until the previous year's maintenance works are completed.

The representation was signed by N Sipong Chang, vice president of Chang Khulei Setshang; K Aliba Sangtam, president of United Sangtam Likhüm Pümji; L Ngon, president of Khiamniungan Tribal Council; Thrungso Yimkhiung, president of Yimkhiung Tribal Council; and Timong, president of Tikhir Tribal Council.

According to the tribal bodies, the STMC works awarded to Hi-Tech Construction & Co., Pace Enterprises and Classic Construction for the period from June 19, 2025 to June 19, 2026 remain incomplete along the highway.

Stating that the maintenance contract had lapsed without the works being fully implemented, they resolved to allow the agencies until the first week of October 2026 to complete the works without compromising quality. Failure to do so, they warned, would compel them to initiate appropriate action.

While describing the sanctioning of a one-year STMC for 244 km of NH-202 for 2026-27 as a welcome development, the tribal bodies requested that its implementation be kept in abeyance until the 2025-26 works are completed.

The representation also referred to a July 27, 2026 letter from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways regarding an interim arrangement to ensure that national highway projects in Nagaland do not come to a halt and that the land acquisition process continues.

The tribal bodies stated that several meetings and communications had taken place concerning the proposed two-laning of NH-202, describing the highway as the “lifeline” for the people of Tuensang, Shamator, Noklak and Kiphire.

They maintained that NH-202 is among the oldest national highways serving the region and remains to be upgraded, even as other parts of the state have gained access to upgraded two-lane highways.

They therefore appealed to the state government to initiate the two-laning project at the earliest.