Enhanced Oversight to Expedite Nagaland Highway Projects

S Supongmeren Jamir, Nagaland's only Lok Sabha member, has declared a rigorous four-month monitoring period to accelerate the completion of national highway projects. He has cautioned that contractors may face repercussions if timelines are not adhered to.

Speaking at a press briefing, Jamir, who is also the president of the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee, shared insights from his inspections of highway stretches between Dimapur and Kohima, and Kohima to Jesami. His assessments focused on project execution, maintenance, and safety standards managed by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Despite natural challenges like tough terrain and erratic weather, Jamir emphasized that contractors and agencies must meet project timelines. He detailed safety and quality concerns, including substandard road safety infrastructure and blocked drainage systems exacerbating road damage.

Jamir noted issues such as unapproved road dividers leading to accidents and theft of crash barriers as safety threats. He expressed confidence in most projects meeting this year's completion deadlines, except the Kohima bypass due to additional construction needs and land disputes. Continuous weekly oversight is planned to ensure compliance with commitments.

(With inputs from agencies.)