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54% Physical Progress: Gauhati High Court Slams Slow Work on Dimapur-Kohima Road
The has expressed strong displeasure over the sluggish pace of construction on the vital Dimapur-Kohima road corridor, a key artery for Nagaland's connectivity. A Division Bench of Justice Manish Choudhury and Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer, hearing a , pulled up the and the , for failing to meet deadlines and for the deplorable condition of the road.
A Road in Distress
The case,
, has been monitoring the progress of road works under three packages (I, II, and III), slope protection measures, and the Lerie Welcome Gate to Jotsoma Bypass stretch. On
, the court's
,
, reported after a personal inspection that the stretches under Package-I and Package-II were "not worthy of plying" and causing
"serious inconveniences to the commuters."
The court found the progress on these stretches "dismal."
Court's Displeasure Mounts
The bench recorded that on the Lerie Welcome Gate to Jotsoma Bypass stretch, cumulative physical progress stood at a mere 54.18% as of , despite financial progress appearing significantly higher. In some weeks, the progress reports showed 0.00% physical achievement.
“We are constrained to express our displeasure with regard to the construction progress achieved by the respondent No. 5 and respondent No. 21. So far as on 01.09.2026, the cumulative physical progress achieved was only 54.18%. In the weekly construction progress reports, in some weeks, physical progress achieved was shown to be 0.00%,” the court observed.
Potholes and Public Frustration
The situation has become so dire that even ordinary citizens have stepped in. The informed the court that potholes dot the entire stretch, making commuting extremely difficult. He noted that members of the general public had come forward to fill the potholes themselves, just to make the road "somewhat motorable."
The contractor, , undertook to fill all potholes on the entire stretch by . The court directed the Chief Engineer, PWD (NH), Nagaland, to conduct an inspection and report on the status of pothole repairs in the next affidavit.
A Tight Deadline for Completion
Regarding Package-I, the court noted that a 4-kilometer stretch with persistent motorability issues would be reconstructed from subgrade level under a . The court impleaded the PBMC contractor, , as a new party-respondent to ensure accountability.
For Package-II, the EPC contractor was found unresponsive, and the Authority Engineer prepared an estimate for maintenance at the contractor's risk and cost. The court expressed hope that the tender process for Package-II would be completed by the end of September 2026.
As for Package-III, despite earlier claims of 90% physical progress, the court noted no improvement in the interim. The project is now targeted for completion by the end of September 2026, and NHIDCL has been directed to file a completion report.
Slope Protection: A Delayed Necessity
The court also addressed delays in finalizing the for slope protection measures along the entire Dimapur-Kohima road corridor. The DPR, originally promised by , remains incomplete due to pending recommendations from a Peer Review Expert. Noting that September to March is the best period for construction in Nagaland, the bench directed all stakeholders to expedite the process, including land acquisition and tender publication.
What Lies Ahead
The court has made it clear that it expects significant progress by the next hearing on . The respondents have been directed to file compliance affidavits, and the court's stern observations leave little room for further delays. For the thousands of daily commuters on the Dimapur-Kohima road, the hope is that these judicial nudges will finally translate into a smooth, safe ride.
