Rally in Aboi after alleged one-sided NH-702 verification

KOHIMA — Residents of Aboi town, under the aegis of Konyak Union Aboi unit, on Monday staged a public protest at the local ground demanding a fair survey for the proposed NH-702 (Mon–Aboi–Longleng) alignment.

The protest comes in the wake of a seven-day ultimatum served to the state government on November 17 over what the protestors described as a “selective survey” for the NH-702 alignment.

The organisations alleged that the survey team verified only Option-1, bypassing two other alignments earlier endorsed in multiple meetings.

Following the rally, civil society organisations representing KU Aboi unit, AASU, KNSK, ATSU and Aboi Area Village Council Chairmen submitted a representation to the chief minister through the district administration.

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They expressed concern over the “unilateral and selective” actions of the survey team constituted by the deputy chief minister.

According to the representation, the team verified only the Option-1 alignment on November 4, while Option-2 and Option-3 were “completely ignored.”

It added that despite issuing an ultimatum seeking re-verification of all three alignments within seven days, there was “zero response from the authority.”

The representation also outlined the historical and official developments related to the NH-702 alignment.

It recalled that in 1957, the National Highway from Mokokchung to Sonari (Assam) via Changtongya, Longleng, Phumnyu, Yongam, Nyan area, Aopao Ahlak, Champang (Aboi), Langmeing, Tapi River bank, Tang Kheti and Mon town (Phomching Road Junction) had undergone earth-cutting alignment work up to Langmeing village before it was diverted.

This diversion, it said, prompted repeated representations from the Phom people and the Aboi area to the chief minister in 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2011.

It further stated that the Ministry of Transport and Highways had announced through newspapers on June 14 and October 17, 2014, that NH-702 (143 km) would run from Longleng to Namtula via Longching, Mon and Tizit, along with NH-702B (104 km) from Aboi to Tuensang.

The latter, it claimed, was diverted to Longleng from Tuensang during the 12th NLA Session in March 2015, although it was originally meant to cover Longching to Tuensang.

According to the public bodies, a meeting chaired by the late Minister Noke Wangnao on February 24, 2019, attended by nine Konyak MLAs, KU and the district administration, resolved to support Alignment Option-3 and also agreed to seek an alternative sanction for the construction of Sowa Changle to Longching via Sowa Changnyu.

On May 22, 2025, five engineers, the DC Mon, ADC Aboi, the local MLA, the KU Aboi unit and civil society groups jointly verified Alignment Option-3 up to Chevum Nala under Aboi jurisdiction.

Subsequently, on August 13, 2025, nine MLAs of Mon district, under the chairmanship of Minister Paiwang Konyak, reaffirmed the 2019 decision.

A high-level meeting held on August 28, 2025, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang, who also holds the NH & Planning portfolio, concluded with what was described as a “win-win” decision in favour of Alignment Option-3.

Expressing apprehension, the representation warned that continuing the survey in its present form “may lead to unavoidable public unrest.”

It urged the chief minister to intervene immediately and direct the authorities concerned to conduct a fair survey that includes Option-2 and Option-3.