Nagaland’s Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) S Supongmeren Jamir has expressed serious concern over the slow progress and repeated disruptions in key highway projects across the state. Chairing a review meeting with officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) on October 11, Jamir called for faster execution and stronger coordination to ensure timely completion of vital road networks. The meeting, held at the NHIDCL Regional Office in Kohima, was attended by project engineers, contractors, and consultants overseeing major road and highway works under NHIDCL in Nagaland. Jamir particularly highlighted the recurring blockages along the Dimapur–Kohima four-lane highway, especially near New Chumoukedima Village, which has caused severe inconvenience to commuters and disrupted movement between Nagaland’s commercial and administrative capitals.
According to official reports, the Dimapur–Kohima highway—a crucial stretch of National Highway 29—was originally slated for completion by September 25, 2025. However, progress has been hindered by a combination of natural, technical, and logistical challenges. The MP sought detailed updates on three major projects: the Dimapur–Kohima four-lane highway, the Kohima bypass, and the Kohima–Jessami road. NHIDCL Executive Director R.P. Singh, who presented a comprehensive project report, said that extended monsoon rains, landslides, and local disruptions have delayed certain sections. He informed that the Dimapur bypass and Package 2 of the Dimapur–Kohima highway are already complete, while most of Package 3 is likely to be finished by December 2025. He added that approval for protective works to prevent landslides along Package 1—covering the New Chumoukedima stretch—is still pending.
On the Kohima bypass, Singh admitted that work in Packages 1, 2, and 4 has been moving slowly due to tunnel-related technical issues and local coordination problems. However, he assured that corrective steps have been initiated to address the bottlenecks. The Kohima–Jessami project, he said, has overcome its initial hurdles, with a revised completion target set for September 2026.
