DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 13 (MExN): The Confederation of Nagaland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CNCCI) has urged the state government, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and other stakeholders to take immediate and sustained action to improve National Highway-29, calling it one of the most unreliable and hazardous stretches in the region.
In a statement issued by CNCCI Chairman Dr Khekugha Muru and General Secretary Avi Chase, CNCCI described NH-29 - the oldest and most critical highway connecting Nagaland’s economic and political capital with the rest of Nagaland and Manipur - as a road that has become synonymous with danger and neglect.
It said commercial vehicles traverse the stretch “as if deploying tanks and military equipment in a war zone,” while commuters are forced to “entrust their lives to chance, much like soldiers heading into battle.”
The body said the economic losses from damaged vehicles, delayed shipments and spoiled perishable goods run into hundreds of crores of rupees, while the suffering of commuters, particularly in emergency medical situations, is immeasurable.
CNCCI maintained that the problem has become an annual ritual, with authorities conducting inspection drives ahead of the Hornbill Festival and Christmas shopping season to ensure the highway is pliable by December. For the rest of the year, it said, the road is neglected, earning it the sarcastic moniker of “December Highway.”
Rejecting the argument that unstable terrain is responsible for the recurring problem, CNCCI pointed out that neighbouring states such as Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya with similar topography have successfully constructed and maintained all-weather roads.
“The real issue lies in the government’s failure to provide proper oversight and implement long-term planning,” it said, adding that attempts to shift the blame onto NHIDCL carry little weight.
Calling for urgent intervention, CNCCI said NH-29 must be upgraded into an all-season, four-lane highway to safeguard the safety, dignity and economic prosperity of the people of Nagaland. “Our lives, livelihoods and future deserve far better than a road that functions only when festivals arrive,” it added.
