The Gauhati High Court has expressed displeasure over the slow progress of works on different stretches of the Dimapur-Kohima road and directed the authorities and contractors to expedite the pending works.

A Division Bench of Justice Manish Choudhury and Justice Yarenjungla Longkumer observed, “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 observation came in a suo motu PIL concerning the Dimapur-Kohima road, in which the Court was monitoring the progress of works under Package-I, Package-II and Package-III, slope protection measures and the stretch from Lerie Welcome Gate to Jotsoma Bypass.

Earlier, on August 27, 2026, the Amicus Curiae had submitted after personal inspection that the stretches under Package-I and Package-II were “not worthy of plying” and were causing serious inconvenience to commuters. Taking note of the progress shown in those stretches, which the Court found to be “dismal”, it had directed NHIDCL to carry out the maintenance works and complete them before September 9.

With regard to one of the Dimapur–Kohima road stretches referred to in the proceedings as Package-I, the Court noted that the stretch was approximately 14.935 km, of which around four kilometres had been identified as having “persistent motorability issues”.

It was stated that permanent rectification through reconstruction of the pavement from subgrade level had been decided under a Performance Based Maintenance Contract, and that the four-kilometre stretch would be taken up on priority.

In view of these developments, the High Court impleaded the contractor entrusted with the PBMC contract for Package-I as a party respondent.

“In view of such developments, and in better interests of all the stakeholders, we propose to implead the PBMC Contractor who has been entrusted with the PBMC contract for the stretch of road under Package-I as a party-respondent in this PIL.”

For the road stretch covered under Package-II, the Court noted that the EPC contractor had been found unresponsive despite being put on notice many times to address the issues arising on the stretch. The Authority Engineer had therefore prepared an estimate for carrying out the required maintenance works at the “risk and cost” of the EPC contractor, and the proposal had been forwarded to the competent authority.

The Court said, “This Court hopes and expresses that the tender process for undertaking maintenance works in the stretch of road under Package-II is expedited and completed, preferably within the month of September, 2026.”

As regards the stretch covered under Package-III, the Court noted that it had been informed on August 27 that 90% of the work had been completed. However, the subsequent affidavit continued to show 90% physical progress.

“From the affidavit filed today, it does not appear that the EPC Contractor has achieved much in the interim, as in the affidavit filed, it is stated that the EPC Contractor has achieved 90% physical progress as on date.”

The balance work was stated to comprise miscellaneous and rectification works, with the project targeted for completion by the end of September 2026. The Court directed that the completion report be brought on record along with the next affidavit.

The Court then considered the slope protection measures along the stretches falling under Package-I, Package-II and Package-III. It noted that the final DPR was earlier proposed to be submitted by June 30, 2026, but could not be finalised within that period.

Taking note of the period available for construction work in Nagaland, the Bench directed:

“As the period from September to March is the best period to undertake construction works in the State of Nagaland, all the stakeholders who are involved in the process for finalization of the DPR for slope protection measures along with the stretch of road falling under Package-I, II and III, shall expedite the process and the NHIDCL authorities shall thereafter, initiate the process of land acquisition and publication of the tender for the EPC Contract, at the earliest.”

On the Lerie Welcome Gate to Jotsoma Bypass stretch, the Court noted that physical progress as on August 27 stood at 53.89%, whereas the financial progress “appeared to be on much higher side”. The subsequent affidavit showed cumulative physical progress of only 54.18% as on September 1, with some weekly reports recording 0.00% physical progress.

The Court observed, “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 further recorded that the Chief Engineer had found the efforts put in by the contractor to be “not up to the mark” and the progress “unsatisfactory”. A show-cause notice had been issued as to why penalties and other measures should not be taken against the contractor.

The Court was also informed that potholes existed throughout the stretch and had made commuting difficult. It recorded that even members of the general public had come forward to fill the potholes so that the stretch could at least be made “somewhat motorable”.

The contractor undertook to take all efforts to fill all potholes on the entire stretch by September 30, 2026. The Court directed an inspection and sought the status of the potholes and subsequent construction progress reports in the next affidavit.

“We expect that the respondents would achieve sufficient progress by the next date.”

The matter is now listed for October 7, 2026, with the directed affidavits to be filed before that date.

Case No.: PIL (Suo Moto) No. 2/2019

Case Title: In-Re Kohima v. Union of India & 20 Ors.

Click Here To Read the Judgement