Roads of Nagaland

The saga of the National Highway 29 (NH 29) is a troubling tale of inefficiency, delays, and neglect that has left the citizens of Nagaland frustrated and endangered. The road, which stretches between Dimapur and Kohima, has become synonymous with peril, as landslides and rockslides make travel a dangerous endeavour. Despite the critical nature of this infrastructure, the responsible entities seem to be locked in a cycle of blame, with no real resolution in sight. In a significant development, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of highways, T.R. Zeliang, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) to clear a landslide-induced roadblock near Dzüdza under Sechü Zubza. The deputy chief minister even threatened to deploy state resources to remove the blockage and bill the expenses to NHIDCL if the agency failed to act. This response underscores the deepening frustration with NHIDCL, which, as the implementing agency, was expected to handle such challenges competently. The dangers posed by the incomplete highway were starkly highlighted in 2022, when a Bolero vehicle was struck by a massive rock that fell from a cliff, injuring four passengers. This incident eerily echoed a similar tragedy that occurred on the same date in 2023, where two lives were lost due to a rockslide near the old Chümoukedima check gate. The recurring nature of these incidents begs the question: who is responsible for these preventable accidents? The 4-lane NH 29 project, which began in 2015, was initially expected to be completed by 2018 but the deadline has been extended multiple times-from 2018 to 2019, then to 2021, 2022, and now March 2024. This perpetual delay has eroded public trust, and rightfully so. The constant extension of deadlines is a clear indication of deeper issues, not just within NHIDCL but also within the state government and the contractors involved. In the early 2000s the Ministry of Surface Transport approved the conversion of the double-lane NH 29 (formerly NH 39) into a four-lane highway, particularly the Dimapur-Chümoukedima stretch. The state government reinforced this decision by invoking the National Highway Act 1988, which earmarked 75 feet from the center of the road on either side as a road reservation area. Yet, despite these formalities, the project has been marred by encroachments, inefficiency and lack of accountability. Over and above the saga of delay, the state is also plagued by deteriorating roads across towns as well as unmotorable roads in the far flung areas. For urbanites, the poor condition of roads in Nagaland extends beyond NH 29. Roads within Dimapur, such as the GS Road and the route from Walford traffic point towards Burma Camp, have deteriorated significantly, with stretches completely devoid of bitumen topping. Even the recently restored highway from Dillai gate to Dhobinalla traffic point is showing signs of rapid deterioration just a year after repairs. This speaks volumes about the quality of work being done. As the state grapples with these issues, it is crucial that the government takes a hard look at the factors contributing to the delays and deterioration of infrastructure. The NH 29 project, as well as the condition of roads within towns and inter-district connectivity, must be addressed with urgency and transparency.