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Neiphiu Rio, third from left, speaks during the review of national highway projects in the north-eastern states, in Meghalaya.[/caption]
Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): The chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio has listed to the central government a number of road development projects in the state, including some proposed to be created or developed. He was at the review of road projects in the Northeast region, with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, and officials of the ministry of Road Transport and Highways in Shillong in Meghalaya on Monday. The chief minister’s office (CMO) issued a statement on Tuesday.
Rio broached a proposal to construct a two-lane road diversion from near the Nagaland check gate to Burma camp along NH 29, on engineering, procurement and construction mode. He stated that the NH 129 and NH 29 pass through Dimapur, the biggest commercial hub of Nagaland, connecting with Assam. The diversion is urgently required to ease traffic congestion in the city and provide access to buses entering the Inter State Bus Terminus, which is located 700 meters away from the proposed road diversion, the CMO stated.
The chief minister also urged declaration of six roads in Nagaland as national highways as they had been accorded “in principle approval,” the updates said. The roads are the Showuba-Guzunyu-Pughoboto-Zunheboto-Aghunato-Noklak-Pangsha road; the ‘trans-eastern highway Mon-Longwa-Pangsha-Kiphire-Avangkhu road; NH-29 to NH-29 Dimapur bypass; Gandhi Ashram-Chuchuyimlang (NH-2) to Pangsha ITC; Maibong-Tening in Nagaland to Tamenglong via Tamei in Manipur; and the Ramani Ali Simulguri-Bihubor road in Assam to Mon in Nagaland.
“This will enable the state government to provide maintenance of the roads on a regular basis. Presently, the roads are not maintained due to resource constraints of the state,” the CMO said.
Likewise, Rio sought approval, and ‘sanction,’ for the proposed two-lane trans-Nagaland highway, or the foothill road, during the financial year 2018-19. The project is a three-phase work, the updates said. The chief minister requested the Union minister to appoint consultancy services for two phases of the project for 2018-19.
Damage compensation: Rio stated commitment to provide land for free to develop four Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North East (SARDP-NE) roads in Nagaland. That said, decision has been taken that the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) would compensate affected owners for damage to property assets, the CMO stated.
“Presently, eligible compensation to damages are properties which include structures, buildings, plantations (bamboo, commercial trees), fisheries, miscellaneous properties like wells, irrigation canals, drains, walls, reservoir tanks, retaining walls etc.”
The chief minister was stated to have urged the ministry to direct the NHIDCL to review its ‘present practice of deducting finance against terrace fields, and vacant buildings on the plea that the land is provided free of cost for the projects.’ Rio argued that substantial investment is made or incurred when developing assets in hilly areas. Therefore, the CMO stated, damage to terrace fields, and vacant buildings are a direct loss to owners as they give income and serve them economically. Rio urged for proper compensation; the ministry has agreed, the CMO stated in the updates.
Rio informed that the chief secretary had convened a meeting with three village councils and the NHIDCL due to objections raised by landowners. The villages had objected to surveys and had requested “re-survey” in the presence of land owners in accordance with National Highway specifications, the CMO stated. “NHIDCL has agreed for the re-survey of the existing road alignment with a new consultant keeping in mind the concern expressed by the three village councils.”
On his part, the statement read, Nitin Gadkari reviewed the national highways and SARDP road projects in Nagaland and assured to extend all possible help and assistance to complete the projects early. ‘He also replied to a question raised by deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of National Highways, Y Patton, regarding the status of the Pfutsero-Jessami road and assured to provide funds to the BRO (Border Roads Organisation) for repair and maintenance of the road,’ the CMO stated.
