Phek, (Nagaland), Nov 2 Amid mounting protests over delays in the construction of National Highway-29 (Kohima-Jessami Road), the contractor in charge of the project on Monday assured the Joint Action Committee (JAC) that the Chakhabama-Kikruma stretch would be completed by May 15 next year, a JAC statement said.
The assurance came during a joint physical inspection of the highway project by the JAC on NH-29 (Kohima-Jessami Road), representatives of Ratna Infrastructure Project Private Limited (RIPPL), including its authorised signatory Dr MSN Murthy, and representatives of frontal organisations from four districts — Kohima, Phek, Meluri and Kiphire — along with leaders from Kikruma and Kezoma villages.
According to a statement issued by the JAC Media Cell, the inspection began at RIPPL’s stone quarry site at Chakhabama and concluded at the company’s base camp in Kikruma, where a meeting was subsequently held.
Addressing the meeting, JAC Convenor Vivolie Kezo expressed concern over what he described as the lack of commitment by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in executing the Chakhabama-Kikruma stretch, alleging that repeated extensions had been granted without satisfactory progress on the ground.
Responding to the concerns, Murthy assured that quality work would be delivered and said the difficulties relating to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had been resolved.
He said substantial work would resume shortly after November 15 and assured that the project would be completed by May 15, 2027, stating that the timeline was in accordance with the ministry’s directive. He also appealed to the public to extend cooperation to the company.
The JAC said it would extend support and cooperation to RIPPL in resuming and completing the work while continuing to monitor the project’s progress.
(PTI News)
