Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The Naga Students' Federation is calling out the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited for shoddy construction and persistent delays on projects across Nagaland. The group specifically blasted the four-lane Dimapur-Kohima Road. Work finished in 2023, but the pavement is already falling apart.
Federation members identified failing side walls, missing drainage, and dangerous slopes along the route. Road safety is a ghost. The group cited a lack of signs, reflective markers, and safety barriers. These gaps put drivers at risk during bad weather or night travel. The project sits under a five-year Defect Liability Period, yet the agency has ignored the need for fixes.
Engineers missed the mark on bridge design too. The group claims these spans do not meet the highway standards expected for a four-lane upgrade. They also noted the absence of median work and basic road furniture. "The situation raises concerns over construction quality, project supervision and accountability of the agencies and contractors involved," the Federation stated.
Trouble extends far beyond the Dimapur-Kohima stretch. Local communities and civil groups report similar failures on the Kohima Bypass, Kohima-Mao Road, and the Dimapur Bypass. Other failing sites include slope protection work on NH-29, the Akash Bridge-Jessami Road on NH-202, and the Peren-Dimapur section of NH-129A. Contractors keep walking away with their paychecks. The Federation wants the state government to blacklist these firms and fire any official involved in the mess. They expect a full inspection of every site and immediate repairs on all outstanding defects.
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