One half of a ‘box culvert’ as seen on June 23 at the 4th Mile segment of the Dimapur-Chumoükedima road (NH 29). This was the spot where a clogged drain required trenching right across the under-construction road on June 22. (Morung Photo)
• Relocating roadside utilities attributed for delay
• Targeting to pave one side of P/Bazaar-Chumu stretch by Dec
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 23
The expansion and improvement of the Dimapur-Chumoükedima stretch of NH 29 will overshoot the scheduled 18-month deadline. March 2018 was the scheduled start date of the project, worth over Rs. 500cr, for perking up the erstwhile 2-lane road from the New Field Check Post to the Patkai Bridge over the Chathe River. The total length of the road to be covered by the project comes to 17.3km.
The ceremonial foundation stone signaling the commissioning of the work was laid by the then Chief Minister TR Zeliang in January 2018. The actual ground work began only in August 2018.
15 months since the scheduled start, it has been informed that the date of completion would get extended tentatively to April 2020.
The Morung Express on June 23 took the opportunity of catching up with officials of the firm – TK Engineering - contracted for the project and officials of the Nagaland Public Works Department (PWD). The officials were on site in 4th Mile where a clogged drainage pipe caused stoppage of vehicular traffic on the busy highway on June 22.
The General Manager of the firm Ajay Kumar informed that September 2019 is the scheduled date of completion, as per the contract. However, he added that it would likely get extended to April 2020.
An initial delayed start notwithstanding, he attributed the slow pace of work to time spent on relocating utility equipments such as power and telecom cables lining the road.
While the predictable delay may come as a disappointment to the citizenry, there was a bit of good news too.
According to Kumar, the firm is targeting to pave one (left towards Chumoükedima) side of the road before or by December this year. “We are trying to complete paving one side, starting from Purana Bazaar to Chumoükedima, and make it motorable by December,” he said, adding that laying the concrete pavement will start within a few days.
Will it be an actual 4lane?
As per the project specifications, the entire stretch of the road to be covered will not be 4-lane. Two segments of the total 17.3km will be 2-lane—New Field Check Post to Purana Bazaar (ZHRC junction) stretching 2.9km and the NAPTC, Chumoükedima junction to Patkai Bridge stretching 1.5km. The 4-lane segment from Purana Bazaar to Chumoükedima will run a length of 12.9km.
The 2-lane segments will be bituminous and the 4-lane segment concrete.
As far as the specifications were concerned, Kumar informed that the ‘carriageway’ or the width of the expanded highway is stipulated at 18.5m- 9m each side plus 0.5m divider for the Purana Bazaar to Chumoükedima stretch, including drainage. It also includes 26 culverts of which 11 has been completed and work in progress in 4.
Queried if it meets the Indian standard for 4-lane roads, Executive Engineer, PWD (National Highways) responded, “We used whatever land was available.”
“It’s a ‘buildup area’ and on top of that there was no provision for land acquisition in this project. It was limited to the available Right of Way (RoW) so it has been restricted to the available RoW,” the official said.
For comparison, the RoW acquired for the NH 36 4-lane project bypassing Dimapur was roughly 90m.
He added that ‘rigid concrete pavement’ is generally proposed for 4-lane plus roads.
Obstacles and quality
Asked what has been the major barriers affecting pace of work, Kumar said that clearing the way of power and telecom lines have been the main obstacle. “Utilities shifting have been the main reason for the delay,” he said, while adding that the issue of land has not been a major concern.
The EE added, “Unlike other things power and telecom lines cannot be just shifted easily, it has to be done in coordination with the departments in concern.”
Secretary, Works & Housing, K. Libanthung Lotha, who was also at the site, said, “We are taking it up on a war footing. We are in constant touch with the firm. This time also the CM is calling a meeting on June 26.” With regard to the clogged drain pipe of June 22, he said that a larger diameter drain pipe, which was laid, should hold till the main culvert gets completed.
On the quality of work, the EE said that so far it is progressing as per the norm. According to him, the state PWD is not directly supervising the work. He added that the engineer empanelled by the Ministry of Road Transport plays the overall supervisory role.
Old flyover
The EE said that restoration of the Old Flyover will likely require 3-4 months for which traffic regulations has to be arranged. The restoration will be based on the assessment of technical consultants only after which the works can begin, he added.
