Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 17
A week after the tragic July 4 rockfall in the Chümoukedima stretch of the NH 29, the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) went on record, stating that more land was required to make the ‘pagala pahar’ (crazy hill) to Jharnapani stretch safer.
The words came from the Executive Director (P) of the NHIDCL’s Kohima office following a meeting with the Nagaland state government team led the Deputy Chief Minister, TR Zeliang on July 11. In a separate interview, the same day, Zeliang stated that the NHIDCL did not inform the state government of the requirement and if there was, the NHIDCL should have written to the government.
Four months later, the NHIDCL has yet to make a formal proposal for acquiring the additional land the Executive Director (P) said they required. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima, Abhinav Shivam, the district administration has not received any request or letter.
Shivam told a press conference on November 17 that it should be the NHIDCL “who should acquire the land and give us a safe road.” He said that there has been communication between the state government and the NHIDCL in this regard, wherein, the former clarified that the land has to be acquired by the latter.
Expressing reservations about safety, following the July 4 tragedy, he said that closure of one half of the 4-lane in various segments remains a cause for concern, considering the NHIDCL has asserted the road is 99.8 percent complete. He added, “When two lanes are closed that means they still lack some confidence in the road that they have made.”
While stating that landslides continue to occur at various locations, he said that his concern is with work quality and commuter safety. “As the head of the district I am definitely concerned which has been raised with the NHIDCL as well,” he said.
He further pointed out another area of concern— the box cutting with steep vertical slopes, in between Jharnapani and Medziphema, where the 4-lane forks out into two separate 2-lanes to reconnect after crossing it. At the July 11 interview to the media, the Executive Director (P) of the NHIDCL’s Kohima office had said, “We want to demolish the entire structure the moment land is handed over to us. The entire structure is to be completely cut. It is not safe. I agree.”
On November 15 inspection
The DC said that the November 15 inspection of the Dimapur bypass road and Packages 1 and 2 of the Dimapur-Kohima 4-lane road was undertaken on account of the upcoming Hornbill Festival. The 4-lane Dimapur Bypass road enters the state via Khushiabill after crossing the Dhansiri river from Khatkhati, Karbi Anglong, Assam. The bypass starts at Choto Lengri on the Diphu road to link up with NH 29 at the Chathe Bridge in Chümoukedima, which is popularly known as Patkai bridge.
While stating that the state is expecting a good tourist footfall, he said, “We had pointed out some problems. We found that the road needs to be cleared and safe passage to the tourist has to be given.” The inspection was conducted jointly by the Chümoukedima district administration and NHIDCL officials.
