Kohima: Slope protection projects along National Highway 29 in Nagaland will likely not begin until the end of 2026. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) informed the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench on June 3 that it is still finalizing the necessary Detailed Project Report for the site.
The corporation expects to complete the report by June 30 and secure headquarters approval by early July. Once approved, officials plan to issue tenders in September and finalize contractors by early December. During a recent hearing, the Court reviewed these timelines as part of an ongoing case regarding the highway's condition and safety.
The Division Bench, led by Justice Devashis Baruah and Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer, also questioned why work to widen a riverbed at a hillock site has stalled. The State Government confirmed that despite handing over the site last year, no progress has been made. The Court directed the NHIDCL to file a separate affidavit explaining the delay, noting that Package I cannot be considered finished without this work. The Court stated, "Observing that Package I could not be regarded as complete without widening of the riverbed, the Division Bench Justice Devashis Baruah and Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer directed NHIDCL to explain the delay through a separate affidavit."
Regarding other segments of the project, peer review experts visited the site in mid-May to assess stabilization solutions. While some rockfall mitigation is nearly complete, the NHIDCL confirmed that RCC Box Tunnel construction will continue until June 2027. The Court also emphasized that the agency must hold contractors accountable for the maintenance of completed stretches under Packages I and II.
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