HC Kohima Bench to resume PIL hearing on NH-2 & 29 today

A portion of National Highway-29 at the 'Pagla Pahar' stretch of the Chate River continues to show signs of sinking and erosion, as observed on June 17, 2025. The current stretch was rebuilt after parts of the highway were washed away by the river in September 2024. (Morung File Photo)

A portion of National Highway-29 at the 'Pagla Pahar' stretch of the Chate River continues to show signs of sinking and erosion, as observed on June 17, 2025. The current stretch was rebuilt after parts of the highway were washed away by the river in September 2024. (Morung File Photo)

Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 24

The Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench (GHCKB) will resume the hearing of two important suo moto public interest litigations (PILs) concerning road infrastructure in Nagaland on June 25.

As per the Court’s “Daily Causelist” for Wednesday, the GHCKB Division Bench comprising Justice Budi Habung and Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer will take up the two PILs - one related to the Dimapur-Kohima four-lane on National Highway (NH)-29, and the other concerning the NH-2 Kohima-Mao Road project.

The matter related to NH-29 has gained significance due to several developments since the last hearing on April 2. 

These include another rockfall incident on May 30, which resulted in one casualty along the Pagla Pahar (Tsiedukhru Range) stretch of NH-29, and the erosion of a major portion of a riverbank embankment on June 7.

The embankment had been built as a temporary measure after being washed away in September last year.

During the previous hearing, the Court, while noting the apparent lack of urgency in addressing the issue, had directed the State of Nagaland to initiate appropriate steps for early land acquisition for river expansion. 

Students walk past the completely collapsed stretch of National Highway-2 near the Kisama exit gate, under Phesama village area, on June 2. (Morung File Photo)

The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways were also instructed to accord necessary sanctions and approvals.

Installation of safety measures along the stretch for rockfall protection has remained one of the key issues frequently highlighted in the ongoing proceedings of the PIL, which was first taken up in 2019.

Meanwhile, in the matter of NH-2, although the Division Bench had earlier set a project completion deadline of May 31 “unless prevented by an Act of God,” the Court adopted a more lenient stance on June 4.

This came as the ‘Act of God’ clause provided a reprieve, and the Court was informed that the NH-2 portion near the Kisama exit gate under Phesama village was completely washed away on June 2 due to incessant rainfall.

The counsel for NHIDCL informed the Court that an expert committee is being proposed to examine the total collapse of the road and sought three weeks’ time to place the proposal before the Court.

The Division Bench of Justice Kakheto Sema and Justice Longkumer accordingly granted the request and directed NHIDCL to submit the expert committee’s proposal in the form of an affidavit.



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