Kohima: The Chakhesang Public Organisation (CPO) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) at the Gauhati High Court, Kohima Bench. The group is demanding judicial oversight for the stalled two-lane NH-29 Package-II project at Kikruma. They want the work finished by the September 2026 deadline.
This road serves as a critical lifeline. It connects the state capital, Kohima, to the districts of Phek, Meluri, and Kiphire. It also provides a strategic route toward Manipur and the International Trade Centre at Avangkhu on the Indo-Myanmar border. Residents rely on this link for healthcare, trade, education, and employment because they lack railways or air transport.
The project began with a 2019 tender. The original completion date was June 30, 2022. That contract was terminated when the first firm failed to perform. The project was then re-awarded to Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt. Ltd., but progress remains stalled. The CPO claims the Project Monitoring Group has already recommended terminating this second contractor. The NHIDCL has not acted on this recommendation.
CPO president Vezühü Keyho and general secretary Chepetso Koza released a statement via counsel Neiteo Koza and Associates. They expressed total dissatisfaction with NHIDCL, which they blame for the ongoing inaction. The organization demands that the government step in to stop these developmental losses. They warned that further excuses are no longer acceptable.
"The people have endured this prolonged failure for far too long. The project must now be delivered, accountability must be ensured, and public interest must take precedence over all other considerations," the organization said.
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