The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee officials and members addressing the press conference held in Dimapur on April 6. (Morung Photo)
Announce blockade of PWD (R&B) office in Dimapur from April 15
Morung Express News
Dimapur | April 6
The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC), backed by Dimapur-based tribal hohos (organisations), reiterated the decision to boycott the consultative meeting convened by the state government on April 7 in Kohima. Alongside the boycott, the committee declared a total blockade of the Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges) office in Dimapur starting April 15, citing the government’s failure to issue work orders for the second phase of the Foothills Road project.
The decision followed a meeting held between the NFHRCC and various tribal organisations on April 6 in Dimapur. Addressing a press conference following the meeting, NFHRCC General Secretary Chenithung Humtsoe stated that the tribal Hohos have resolved to stick to their March 30 resolution. “The Hohos will boycott tomorrow’s meeting until and unless the government includes the NFHRCC in the discussions. We are prepared to initiate the second phase of our agitation if our demands are not met,” Humtsoe said.
The NFHRCC regards the almost 400 km road project stretching from Tizit in Mon to Khelma in Peren, as a “Survival Road.” The road, once completed will enable commuters to avoid passing through Assam to travel to other parts of the state from Dimapur or Kohima.
The NFHRCC has alleged the state government of sidelining the committee despite its contribution to kick-starting the project in 2013 with the endorsement of tribal hohos. The committee has asserted that it has the backing of 14 top tribal organisations of the state.
NFHRCC Convenor Supu Jamir said, “Since 2022, we have been humbly appealing to the Chief Minister for an appointment to hammer out any problems, but despite our pleas, we have not been granted an audience.” The state government’s inauguration of the Doyang Bridge, in January 2023, in the Wokha sector, without inviting the NFHRCC was cited as one of the many instances of the government sidelining the committee.
For the second phase, the PWD (R&B) department has reportedly received administrative approval for over Rs 430 crore in 2024. Jamir said that the patience of the tribal bodies has been exhausted.
“Effective from April 15, 2026, we will block the office of the PWD (R&B) department here in Dimapur. We have unanimously resolved that until the government issues the work orders for the second phase, the office will remain locked,” he asserted.
The committee also voiced concerns over government’s shift in focus toward a “4-lane” proposal. The NFHRCC argued that a 4-lane project has not yet been approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and termed the talk as a distraction from completing the existing 2-lane project.
He contested the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio attributing the delay in the road project to land acquisition hurdles in the last Assembly session. “In the recent Assembly session starting March 2nd, the CM asked how he could build a road ‘in the sky if landowners aren't ready to part with the land or if no NOC (No Objection Certificate) is given,” Jamir said.
He added, “The question of not giving land does not arise. We only need one NOC for the Foothills Road, and the government already has it,” while stating that the land-owners had given NOC to the NFHRCC for land acquisition in 2013-14. According to him, the same NOC was handed over to the Chief Minister in 2018 on the latter’s assurance that “he will take it to Delhi and discuss with the concerned Ministry.”
He further recalled the Minister for Roads and Bridges G Kaito Aye’s avowal to resign on moral grounds if the project did not turn out well. “Minister (for Roads and Bridges) G Kaito Aye promised on the floor of the Assembly and on social media that he would resign if things didn't go well. The work on the ground manifests that things are not going well. So, he should take his promise seriously.”
When questioned about the seriousness of the proposed agitation, he said, “We are very serious. For 13 years, we have pursued this regardless of who the Minister was.”
The committee warned that if the government continues to ignore their role, the agitation beginning April 15 at the Dimapur PWD (R&B) office will be just the start of a broader movement. “Nagaland needs this lifeline road. It must be completed without further delay or excuses,” he asserted.
On April 6, Chief Minister Rio responded with “No comment” when asked about the NFHRCC and tribal hohos boycott. The NFHRCC Convenor remarked, “If the leadership says ‘no comment’ on an issue all Nagas are worried about, then the meeting convened for tomorrow has no meaning at all.”
