NH-702A Zunheboto: repair of landslide stretch may take 1-2 months

Restoration of the landslide-damaged stretch of National Highway 702A at New Colony in Zunheboto could take around one to two months, officials of the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) indicated on Monday, November 10, but only after the required approvals and technical processes are completed.

The tentative timeline came up when Nagaland's Lok Sabha MP S. Supongmeren Jamir visited the affected stretch after chairing the district's DISHA meeting, The Morung Express reported.

A road damaged since August

The landslide at New Colony struck in mid-August this year, damaging the highway that serves as a key connectivity route for Zunheboto district. Traffic on the stretch has been disrupted since then, and residents and road users have had to put up with the damaged section for nearly three months.

At the site, Jamir told NHIDCL officials that the road needed immediate attention and called for a time-bound plan instead of prolonged delays. He also asked for better coordination between the agency and the state government so that the work can be carried out on time.

MP questions NHIDCL road quality

Jamir was sharply critical of the condition of NHIDCL roads in Nagaland. He said the agency's highways in other states were of good quality and lasted long, but in Nagaland they were in a poor and deplorable state, and that NHIDCL needed to build credibility in the state.

He added that development work should not be judged only by whether funds are available, but also needed proper planning, coordination and timely execution. He encouraged officials to submit additional proposals where needed to deal with urgent infrastructure problems in the district.

What officials said

NHIDCL engineers present at the site, including Graduate Engineer Nehal Kurishi, Authority Engineer Prabhakar Mishra and Site Engineer Kisor Kunal, said the proposed work would depend on approvals and technical formalities. The one-to-two-month estimate was discussed on that basis and is not a fixed deadline.

Jamir called for regular follow-up between officials so that the concerns raised during the visit are carried forward. NEInsider will report when restoration work on the New Colony stretch begins.