Morung Express News
Kohima | February 22
The Contractor and the Authority Engineer have submitted contrasting progress reports of the ongoing National Highway (NH)-2 road construction project from Kohima-Mao Gate to the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench.
As per the proceedings of the Court on February 22, the Contractor, as directed by the Court earlier, has deployed an additional Paver and enhanced working hours.
The Contractor (Fortune Groups) also submitted that though the progress of the work as on today was at 27.5%, every effort shall be made to complete the work within the time line already given i.e. by the end of March 2023.
On the other hand, Authority Engineer submitted that the progress of the work as on February 22 was 21.5%.
If the Contractor has to complete the project within the time line given, workforce strength has to be increased to a minimum of 120 and the number of machineries must also be increased, he submitted.
Accordingly, the Division Bench of Justice Songkhupchung Serto and Justice Kakheto Sema, listing the matter for further hearing on February 23, directed the Contractor and Authority Engineer to file affidavits showing the progress of the work in detail by Thursday morning.
Regarding the 2 kilometre under the responsibility of the State Government, the Additional Advocate General submitted that construction has been completed but the maintenance will continue for another year.
Further observing that the AAG has not come fully instructed regarding the earlier direction to obtain instruction on the progress made on acquisition of lands for expansion of the road, the Bench directed the former to obtain instruction and file affidavit by March 9.
The Bench also orally observed that the State Government seems to be forsaking the responsibility of monitoring road being constructed under its ‘nose.’
“This is the road constructed within your own state,” the Bench noted, while directing the AAG to obtain proper instruction.
The Kohima Bench is currently hearing a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL) with regard to the ongoing NH-2 road construction along the Kohima-Mao Gate stretch.
