Members of Chakhesang Students' Union on May 14 continued their protest over the execution failure of the Package 2 of the National Highway-29 Kohima to Jessami Road Project. (Photo Courtesy: CSU)
Phek, May 14 (MExN): The Chakhesang Students' Union (CSU) has demanded the immediate termination of the work contract awarded to M/s Ratna Infra Project Pvt. Ltd, the EPC contractor executing Package 2 of the National Highway-29 Kohima to Jessami Road Project, citing a “gross breach of contractual obligations.”
In a representation submitted to Krishan Kumar, Managing Director of the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL), the union also highlighted the contractor’s “continued and unacceptable” failure in executing the project and called for immediate re-tendering of the work.
The CSU noted that despite multiple representations and the ultimatum served—including the latest on May 2—there has been no tangible progress on the ground, and the contractor has failed to carry out meaningful work even during the dry season. It also expressed resentment towards NHIDCL over the issue.
It further stated that the persistent negligence, lack of urgency, and absence of transparency—compounded by NHIDCL's continued inaction—have caused significant hardship for the local population, endangered public safety, and stalled socio-economic development in the region.
In this connection, the CSU unequivocally stated that its patience has been “exhausted,” and the prolonged failure has completely eroded public trust in both NHIDCL and its appointed contractor.
The representation therefore called for the immediate termination of the work contract and blacklisting of the concerned contractor from all future projects within the Chakhesang region.
It also demanded that the project be re-tendered through a transparent and competitive process to ensure the appointment of a competent and committed contractor. Interim maintenance work should be carried out to minimise inconvenience to the public during the re-tendering process, it added.
Urging immediate and decisive intervention by the NHIDCL Managing Director, the CSU warned that failure to act promptly would be deemed wilful negligence on the part of the agency.
It added that the CSU would be compelled to intensify its democratic agitation until accountability is ensured and justice delivered.
It may be noted that since May 12, the CSU has imposed an ‘indefinite restriction’ on the movement of NHIDCL, M/s Ratna Infra, and government vehicles along the affected stretch as part of its ongoing protest.
