4-lane: Nagaland’s widest paved road has exposed drainage segments

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 17

The 4-lane road (NH 29) between Purana Bazaar and Chümoukedima would be, by far, the widest and smoothest stretch of paved road in Nagaland today. The 12.9km concrete road was built as part of a ‘Dimapur city road’ improvement project, funded by the Union government, starting from the Newfield Check-post till the Chathe river bridge at Chümoukedima running 17.3km in total. 

As per the original project specifications, two segments of the total 17.3km are 2-lane— New Field Check Post to ZHRC junction at Purana Bazaar (2.9km) and Nagaland Police Complex junction to Chathe Bridge (1.5km). 

The work was worth over Rs 500cr when sanctioned. It came with a ‘Defect liability’ clause— a contractual obligation for repair and maintenance for a period of 4 years post project completion. 

Groundwork began in August 2018 with September 2019 as the targeted date of completion. The project duration was extended atleast three times before it was finally declared “inaugurated” by the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari in December 2020. 

However, it has not been hard to notice water-logging and drainage either left exposed or the slab caving in at certain points along the 4-lane stretch. Side drainage remains exposed at atleast three spots— one at 6th Mile and two others at Chümoukedima – almost a year since the inauguration, while the state government has yet to explain why so. It has not only been an eyesore but also potential road hazard. 

One of the exposed spots at Chümoukedima, located near the second gate, appeared to have not been covered by the requisite concrete slab (lid). Across this uncovered spot runs an alleyway. 

As opposed to this, a segment of the concrete slab over the side drainage at Ward-4 had caved in exposing the iron rebar which formerly held the concrete together. Right across this drainage segment runs a lane leading to the weekly Chümoukedima Saturday Market. 

The exposed segment at 6th Mile runs approximately 15-20 feet, which if covered, would have served as a footpath. 
At 4th Mile, a small strip of the carriageway, bordering the side drainage, was found without any sign of concrete finish. It could not be independently verified whether the earth sunk or was left unpaved. 

Construction firm says
The Morung Express managed to get in touch with a senior executive of the Arunachal Pradesh-based construction firm, which took up and completed the improvement project. 

The executive admitted to the defect liability coverage. However, he maintained that landowners and commuters are as much responsible for the exposed drainage segments. 

According to him, the concrete slab at Ward-4, Chuümoukedima caved in because it was not given enough time to cure. He said, “Concrete needs to be cured for atleast 28 days,” but commuters, including truckers, started using the lane before the specified curing period. 

While stating that the slab broke not long after it was cast, he claimed that the firm had even written to the district administration to stop plying of vehicles over the drainage before the concrete cured. 

The exposed side drainage at 6th Mile was attributed to trouble with adjacent property owners. He maintained that it was not covered because an existing drain was allegedly encroached and the slab could not be placed till the existing drain was cleared. He added that the firm had written to the administration in this regard as well “but nothing has happened till date. No drain has been opened, no blockage has been removed. Nothing has happened. So these are the issues.” 

According to him, hundreds of crores have been spent but the people have not been receptive enough to comprehend the causes and circumstances. 

With regard to the strip of carriageway left unpaved at 4th Mile, he said that he can comment only when he visits the site. Aside from the segments which had issues, he maintained that no other point was left incomplete.