Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Kohima: The Chakhesang Students Union issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. They want the firm building the NH-29 Kohima-Jessami road fired immediately. If the agency fails to act, the union will block the entire highway starting September 30.
Students sealed the contractor's base camp at North Kikruma on September 25. They claim the company abandoned its duties despite numerous chances to finish the work. The group has been fighting these delays for two years. CSU president Povozo Soho told the media, "We cannot tolerate anymore."
Records show the Chakhabama-Kikruma package started on October 10, 2023. The project carries an original finish date of January 4, 2026. The NHIDCL gave the contractor a grace period that ended on September 24. General secretary Rhilo Chiero states the project is only 44.30 per cent complete. The union argues the company lacks the labor and machinery to do the job. They also cite a failure to maintain the existing road surface.
A six-point agreement signed on June 22 between the union, the agency, and the contractor failed to fix the rot. The union submitted a formal memo to the Executive Director of the NHIDCL Regional Office in Kohima. They insist the project is a vital lifeline for residents in Phek, Meluri, and Kiphire. The students demand a fresh tender process to find a competent company. Work on the current package remains halted until further notice.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 1:48am
The union specifically identified the firm behind the delays as M/S Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd. Project documents detail the work covers a 21.90-kilometer stretch from Chakhabama to Kikruma. Despite two joint inspections on July 13 and August 4 showing no meaningful headway, the road remains riddled with hazards. The union reports that the crumbling, unmotorable surface has already triggered several accidents, escalating the situation from a mere contractual dispute into a pressing public safety crisis.
Tensions flared further when the CSU accused the district administration of forcibly stripping their seals from the contractor's office. The union slammed this move as an unacceptable suppression of a democratic protest. They are now challenging the administration, asking if local officials are effectively endorsing the company's track record of failure. The CSU warned that the administration will now share accountability for any public backlash if they continue to interfere with the agitation.
Updated at 26th September 2026 at 9:47am
The union officially identified the contractor as M/S Ratna Infrastructure Projects Pvt Ltd. The scope of the stalled work covers a 21.90 kilometer stretch from Chakhabama to Kikruma. While the project target was 50 percent completion, the company managed only 44.30 percent by the deadline.
Tensions spiked when the CSU accused the district administration of ripping the union's seals off the contractor's office. The students fired back at the officials, asking if the local administration is now acting as an unofficial spokesperson for the company's failures. They warned that if the administration continues to suppress the protest, they will be held responsible for any public outrage that follows.
Updated at 27th September 2026 at 1:47am
The movement gathered momentum as the United Sangtam Students’ Conference (USSC) and the Pochury Students’ Union (PSU) threw their weight behind the CSU. The USSC slammed the district administration for acting as an obstacle to a peaceful agitation, questioning why officials tasked with leading the Project Monitoring Group failed to hold the contractor accountable while moving quickly to tear down the union's seals.
These student groups branded the road a lifeline for patients, traders, and students across Kiphire and Meluri, warning that continued administrative interference will only invite deeper public rage. With the CSU having already re-sealed the base camp in response to the removal, the union has served notice that any further attempts to block their demonstration will carry heavy consequences for the local authorities.
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