The Pfutsero Town Business Association has urged NHIDCL to review delays in the Kohima-Jessami road project and fix accountability for stalled work.
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DIMAPUR — The Pfutsero Town Business Association (PTBA) has sought the intervention of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) headquarters in New Delhi over the prolonged delay in the Kohima-Jessami Road Package II project, urging the agency to constitute a high-level review mechanism and fix accountability for the stalled work.
In a representation submitted to the NHIDCL Managing Director, the association expressed concern over the delay in completing the 21.90-km Chakhabama-Kikruma stretch under NH-29 (Old NH-150), which was tendered under the Bharatmala Pariyojana programme in 2019 and awarded in March 2020.
The representation comes days after the Chakhesang Students' Union (CSU) served a 14-day ultimatum on NHIDCL, demanding cancellation of the extension granted to the contractor and immediate restoration and maintenance of the road.
According to the PTBA, more than five years have elapsed since the project was first tendered, yet the road remains incomplete, causing hardship to the public, transporters, businesses, farmers, students, government employees and commuters across Pfutsero, Phek district and the wider Chakhesang region.
Also read: CSU serves NHIDCL ultimatum, seeks cancellation of Kohima-Jessami road extension
Pochury Students' Union joins CSU in seeking accountability on NH-29 work
The association stated that official records indicate the original contract awarded to M/s KCPL carried a completion target of June 30, 2022. However, the contract was subsequently terminated after achieving only 58.08% physical progress and 54.08% financial progress.
The balance work was later awarded to M/s Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd., with a date of award of October 10, 2023, and an appointed date of January 5, 2024.
PTBA stated that the latest project status available on NHIDCL's monitoring platform records only 40% cumulative physical progress and 40% cumulative financial progress, while the original scheduled completion date is listed as January 4, 2026.
The association observed that the figures raise concerns regarding the pace of execution and the effectiveness of project monitoring and supervisory mechanisms.
According to the representation, the deteriorated condition of the road has resulted in increased transportation costs, disruption of commercial activities, delays in the movement of goods and essential commodities, repeated vehicle damage, increased maintenance expenditure and financial hardship for the public.
The association further stated that the circumstances surrounding the project indicate deficiencies in planning, execution, monitoring, supervision and enforcement at both the implementation and oversight levels.
In view of the delay, PTBA has requested NHIDCL headquarters to constitute a high-level review committee or special review mechanism to examine the current status of the project, identify the causes of delay, assess the performance of all concerned agencies and recommend corrective measures for its expeditious completion.
The association also urged NHIDCL to undertake a comprehensive review of the implementation process, ensure accountability wherever warranted under applicable contractual and administrative provisions, strengthen monitoring and supervisory mechanisms and enforce adherence to revised timelines.
Earlier on June 2, the CSU served a 14-day ultimatum on NHIDCL, expressing resentment over the delay in completion of the project and objecting to the extension granted to the contractor until September 24, 2026.