Opposition leader and former Nagaland chief minister T R Zeliang on Monday has sought clarification from National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) on whether the two firms – M/s ECI Engineering & Construction Co Ltd and M/s Gayatri Projects Ltd, both from Hyderabad – engaged in construction of four-lane Dimapur-Kohima road (national highway 29) and maintenance of the existing road are complying with the provisions of the contract agreement.
He pointed out that journey from Dimapur to Kohima took around two hours normally. But now due to the prevailing condition, it takes anywhere between three and five hours, causing immense hardship and problems to commuters, he wondered.
Zeliang, in a letter to Dimapur branch office general manager of NHIDCL Arun Kumar Gupta, also wanted to know if the two firms had sub-let their contracts to second or third parties. If so he asked Gupta to furnish their names for transparency as discussed in the series of meetings held while he was the chief minister.
The Opposition leader said during the series of meetings held at the chief minister’s office and the new secretariat in Kohima earlier, he was satisfied with Gupta’s explanation on the agreements entered between NHIDCL and the two firms. However, he regretted that despite maintenance of the existing two-lane road having been sanctioned, the general people are suffering.
As per NHIDCL general manager’s explanation, Zeliang said, maintenance of the existing road was covered under the contract agreement while construction of the new four-lane was on. He, however, expressed surprise that the existing road has been badly affected due to the ongoing construction work.