Dimapur: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Wednesday expressed concern over what it described as poor workmanship, prolonged delays and negligence in the execution and maintenance of road projects undertaken by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) across Nagaland.The federation cited the upgraded four-lane NH-29 between Dimapur and Kohima as a “glaring example” of compromised construction standards and administrative failure. It said similar complaints had emerged from several districts and project sites where NHIDCL was executing infrastructure works.In a statement, NSF said civil society organisations and local communities had repeatedly raised concerns over the quality of ongoing projects, including the Kohima bypass road, Kohima-Mao road upgradation project, Dimapur bypass project, slope protection works along NH-29, Akash Bridge-Jessami road (NH-202) and the Peren-Dimapur section of NH-129A, Packages II and III.Despite a completion certificate being issued in 2023, the condition of the Dimapur-Kohima road remained deplorable, the federation said. It pointed to damaged stretches, collapsing side walls, inadequate slope protection, poor drainage, lack of maintenance and delays in repairing defects.The NSF said that although the project was under a five-year Defect Liability Period, necessary repair and maintenance work had not been undertaken, raising questions about construction quality, supervision and accountability.It also alleged design and execution deficiencies in several bridges, where four-lane structures should have been built in line with upgraded highway standards.The federation further flagged the absence of median landscaping, poor road furniture, inadequate safety barriers and insufficient indicators, reflective markers and warning signs, which it said endangered commuters, particularly during bad weather and night travel.
