Serious concerns surfaced in the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court as judges pressed the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and contractors over incomplete road projects that continue to leave Nagaland’s busy highways in poor shape. The court expressed displeasure at broken promises, sluggish progress, and counsels arriving without clear instructions.
NH-2: Deadlines missed and questions left unanswered
The most glaring spotlight fell on the 26.7-kilometre stretch of NH-2 between Kohima and Mao Gate. The contractor, Vechupa Rose & Co., had pledged in an April 3 undertaking to finish work by May 31. Yet by the latest hearing, only 70 per cent of the project had been completed. When asked if any action had been taken for failing to honour the commitment, NHIDCL’s counsel had no clear response.
Complicating matters further, a 100-metre section of the road collapsed in a landslide after the deadline had passed. However, the bench firmly noted that the landslide could not explain delays across the rest of the highway.
To make things worse, the contractor’s counsel admitted he had no instructions on why the deadline was ignored. The court observed that both NHIDCL and the contractor seemed “not serious,” given their counsels’ lack of preparedness.
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To break the deadlock, the bench ordered competent representatives from NHIDCL and the contractor to appear in person and provide both the current status and a realistic timeline for completion. The next hearing is scheduled for September 17.
The Amicus Curiae told the court that an alternative plot of land had already been handed over by the State for the collapsed section and suggested a fresh work order might be required for this portion.
NH-29: Work underway but key concerns persist
Alongside NH-2, the court reviewed ongoing progress on NH-29 in a separate suo motu case. This focused on Package-III, the Bailey steel bridge at Chainage 155, slope management works, and a problem-prone sinking area at Chainage 164.
Contractor M/S Brand Eagles reported steady advances on the bridge, promising completion by the end of September in alignment with the contract. Package-III, last recorded at 73.87 per cent completion as of July 14, was earlier committed for completion by September 28.
However, the bench pressed for specifics on whether additional work orders had been issued to address the trouble-prone Chainage 164. It ordered the contractor to submit progress updates in writing by September 24.
Meanwhile, M/S Maccaferri Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., responsible for slope management and rockfall protection across three different packages, stated that work was moving “in full progress.” The bench insisted the company put its latest progress on record before the next hearing.
No clear update was provided during the proceedings on Chainage 126 tied to the Chathe River bank expansion. The bench also set aside for now the portion of NH-29 managed by the State’s Public Works Department. For the rest, the court sharpened its focus on measurable progress, clarity about new work orders where needed, and submission of affidavits within the given timelines.
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A push for accountability
Through its latest observations, the Kohima Bench of Gauhati High Court signalled that patience with missed deadlines and vague updates has worn thin. Both NHIDCL and contractors have been pushed to provide direct accounts of delays and to present realistic schedules before the next set of hearings this month.
With projects on NH-2 and NH-29 central to connectivity in Nagaland, the court’s tighter oversight is geared towards moving these long-stalled projects closer to completion.
