DC Chümoukedima flags NHIDCL over closure of 2-lane stretch on NH-29

DIMAPUR — Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima, Abhinav Shivam, on Friday raised concern over the closure of the two-lane stretch from Pagala Pahar and beyond along the four-lane NH-29 for an “extensive period.”

The DC said the closure of the two-lane stretch, even as the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) claimed to have completed 99.8% of the work, indicated that the NHIDCL still lacks confidence in the road that it is constructing.

Addressing the media in his office chamber, Shivam updated on the recent joint inspection of the bypass road and Package I and II of Dimapur-Kohima road, conducted by the district administration and NHIDCL, in the backdrop of the upcoming Hornbill Festival.

“Since the road has been closed for so long and as we are expecting good numbers of tourist to visit Nagaland, as far as the security and safety is concern we had undertaken the survey. We had pointed out some problems that we have found which also includes that the road needs to be cleared and safe passage to the tourist has to be given,” he said.

The DC also disclosed that he has apprised the NHIDCL about his dissatisfaction on the dilapidated condition of the bus stop and washroom along the bypass, after a joint verification of the Dimapur bypass conducted on November 15.

Shivam also shared his concern over the box cutting between Medziphema and Jharnapani.

On the NHIDCL statement that more land is required to make the Chümoukedima-Jharnapani (Pagala Pahar) stretch of NH-29 safer, the DC said that, so far, his office has not received any proposal letter or request for additional land from NHIDCL.

“When they are making 4-lane in all other places and when they are requiring the land, I don’t know why they want the state government to acquire the land. It should be them who should acquire the land and give us safe road,” Shivam said.

Further, he said that, as per the communication between the state government and NHIDCL, the government had clarified that the land acquisition and compensation was the responsibility of the NHIDCL.

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