Nagaland’s Historic AH-1 Highway Collapses, Disrupting Key Southeast Asian Route

Kohima, July 13, 2025 – The oldest national highway in Nagaland, AH-1 (also known as NH-29), a vital artery dating back to the British era, has collapsed, causing significant disruptions for commuters and stakeholders. The Southern Angami Public Organisation (SAPO) reported the incident on July 12, 2025, urging immediate action from the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the central government, and the state government to allocate resources for swift restoration.This critical highway connects Kohima to Southeast Asian countries, serving as a lifeline for trade and travel. SAPO emphasized the need to prioritize repairs over weather-related delays, warning that prolonged inaction could exacerbate the region’s connectivity challenges.

On June 7, 2025, Nagaland’s Lok Sabha MP, S. Supongmeren Jamir, visited the landslide-affected stretch, underscoring the issue’s severity under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).While a budget of ₹2,198 crore was previously allocated for infrastructure development, no direct link to the AH-1/NH-29 restoration has been confirmed. Recent reports highlight substantial investments in India’s highway projects, with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) planning to bid out 124 projects worth ₹3.4-3.5 lakh crore for 6,376 km in FY 2025-26. However, these initiatives are not specific to Nagaland, and the ₹2,198 crore figure may pertain to a broader infrastructure plan or an unverified allocation.

For precise details on the budget and restoration efforts, officials recommend consulting MoRTH or NHIDCL reports. Stakeholders are advised to monitor updates via official sources like https://morth.nic.in/ or local news for the latest developments on this critical infrastructure crisis.