Downgrading segment of NH-29 to 2-lane road not reasonable, Sapo writes to Modi

Dimapur, Oct. 1 (EMN): The Southern Angami Public Organisation (Sapo) has sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in what it stated was downgrading of a segment of the NH-29 four-lane road project between Kohima and Imphal, in contravention of the approved original plan.

In a memorandum addressed to the prime minister, the Sapo stated that this downgrading from four-lane project to two-lane has been done “citing unreasonable technical difficulties”.

“Whereas, the topography of Manipur and Nagaland foothills are similar in nature in almost every aspect and therefore, to alter and downgrade the project of Kohima-Mao/Tadubi (Manipur) which is a mere stretch of 38.9 km, is not only a wrongful deviation from the approved original plan of four-lane but also a betrayal of the hope and aspirations of the people of the region.

“Presently, it is observed that the implementing agency, namely the NHIDCL, is going ahead with four-lanning road from Dimapur to Kohima in Nagaland and Tadubi to Imphal in Manipur, leaving aside Kohima to Tadubi sector and downgrading it to two-lane only, which is in contravention to the earlier agreed position of four-lane,” it stated.

Attempts to resolve the matter among the parties of MORTH, government of India; NHIDCL; government of Nagaland; and Sapo, have failed and it has exhausted all other means of redress, the Sapo maintained.

It appealed to the prime minister to reconsider the earlier central ministry’s directive, keeping in mind the ‘Act East Policy’ and vision and also fulfilling the dream and vision of the then president of India Late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. “In the light of this, we shall be immensely grateful to your able and dynamic leadership, if you will reconsider the original and the first survey proposal for four-lanning within this existing NH-29 (erstwhile NH-39)/NH-2 Kohima-Imphal road,” it stated.