A vehicle is seen manoeuvring through a waterlogged pothole on the National Highway 2 from Khuzama to Kigwema and Phesama stretch in this picture taken in June 2022. (Inset) Status of the ‘Upgradation of existing road to 2-lane with paved shoulder from Kohima to Mao’ road project as on August 31, 2022 according to the NHIDCL. (Morung File Photo)
Morung Express News
Kohima | September 15
The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, on September 14, directed the, Authority Engineer, the NHIDCL and the Contractor of the ongoing upgradation of existing road to 2-lane with paved shoulder from Kohima to Mao to “ensure that the road is maintained and the maintenance work starts today itself and is completed within 7 days.”
Resuming the hearing of a suo moto public interest litigation (PIL) on the issue, the Bench comprising of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema, noted that the NH-2 is one of the busiest highways in the region as it also serves as the lifeline for the State of Manipur.
The highway is needed to be maintained at all costs so that it does not cause any inconvenience to the transporters and commuters, it said, but noted that the condition of the road as on today is “so pathetic and it also endangers the lives of people who travel on this Highway.”
Incidentally, the Bench informed that while it directed on August 29 for the matter to be listed in last part of October 2022 with a progress-report and compliance-report of completion of the work atleast upto 35%, it was advanced to September 14 “due to the pathetic condition of the road, especially between Khuzama Village and Mao Gate.”
The condition of the road has become so bad that it has become dangerous to travellers or commuters, it said.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Authority Engineer submitted that notice has been issued to the Contractor to do the maintenance work immediately while the counsel for Contractor stated that the maintenance work could not be carried out due to the incessant rain that has been there during the last 7 days.
‘Therefore, we direct the Authority Engineer, the NHIDCL and the Contractor to ensure that the road is maintained and the maintenance work starts today itself and is completed within 7 days,’ the Bench directed.
Listing the matter for again for hearing after a week, the Bench further directed the Authority Engineer to submit a report on whether the maintenance work has been done or not.
It further reiterated its earlier direction on August 29 for completion of at least 35% of the over-all work by October 27, 2022.
While taking up the PIL (suo moto), the court had earlier cited the importance the highway for day to day life of 5 to 6 million people in the State of Manipur and Nagaland, the role it plays to for regional as well as the international connectivity and the lack of maintenance of the road for many years, among others.
Kohima-Mao Road Upgradation Project
As per the status of project reports available on the NHIDCL (National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd) website, the project was first awarded in September 9, 2020 and work started on October 20, 2020.
Covering a distance of 26.249 kilometre, the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase/ Scheme under National Highways (Original)-Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) is being upgraded with Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.
The contract for the project was awarded to Fortune Groups with Target date of completion as per contract as “22-4.2022.” However, with the lapses of deadline, the new “Likely date of completion” as on August 31, was given as “02-03-2023.” (See Image)
