NHIDCL clarified Tsiedukhru Range hill-cutting aims to widen Chathe River channel and reduce flood pressure along NH-29
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DIMAPUR — Amid ongoing public concern over the hill-cutting and washed-out road stretch at Tsiedukhru Range (commonly called as Pagla Pahar) along NH-29, the contractor engaged by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) has clarified that the ongoing hill-cutting work across the Chathe River is intended to widen the river channel and not divert its natural flow.
According to the contractor, the work is being carried out in accordance with the Detailed Project Report (DPR), and nearly 96% of the project has already been completed. The remaining portion could not be executed due to rising water levels in the river.
The contractor said that only about three metres in length and two metres in width remain to be cut, but machinery cannot currently enter the river because of the strong water flow.
He informed that the project involves cutting approximately 100 metres of hill stretch to widen the river channel and reduce the force of water flow during heavy rains.
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Clarifying concerns raised by the public, the contractor stated that the hill-cutting is not meant to straighten or divert the river course.
“The objective is to widen the river channel so that the pressure and force of the current can be reduced,” he said.
As per the DPR, the widening work aims to increase the river width from around 11 metres to nearly 29-30 metres at the particular chainage. He added that if machinery can access the river, the remaining work could be completed within two days.
The contractor also informed that pothole repair works along the stretch from Chathe Bridge (Patkai junction) to Medziphema are expected to begin from Tuesday, subject to favourable weather conditions.
He said that the pothole maintenance work has been allotted a six-month duration, although efforts are being made to complete the repairs within two months as another major project is expected to overlap the same stretch.
According to the contractor, the larger maintenance project covering the Chathe Bridge-Medziphema stretch has already entered the tendering stage, with only technical and financial formalities remaining. The process may take another four to five months.
Another contractor associated with NHIDCL informed that a separate proposal for construction of a bridge near the damaged stretch is also under process.
He said that the washed-out portion of the road is currently being maintained as a two-lane stretch while authorities work towards a long-term solution through the proposed bridge project.
According to him, the consultant preparing the DPR has already submitted the draft report. Once approved, the proposal will be forwarded to the ministry concerned for funding clearance, after which the tendering process and allotment of work will follow.
However, he maintained that the bridge project remains at an initial stage and that it would be premature to comment on timelines, as multiple stages including approvals and tendering would take several months before construction could begin.
The contractor further stated that the proposed bridge is expected to eventually replace the present temporary two-lane arrangement at the site, which was originally a four-lane stretch before being damaged by the river.
He added that traffic movement on the existing temporary two-lane section may eventually be restricted or closed once the bridge becomes operational.
On whether additional hill-cutting would be required for the bridge project, the contractor said that it would depend on the final bridge design and alignment.
Authorities clarified that there is currently no proposal to immediately restore the existing two-lane section into a four-lane road.
It may be mentioned that on September 3-4, 2024, a major portion of the four-lane highway was washed away by the overflowing Chathe River following heavy rainfall.
Again on June 16, 2025, nearly nine months later, another section of the repaired four-lane road was washed away after temporary protective structures reportedly failed during intense rainfall.