MLA and Chairman of SDPDB Bhandari Achumbemo Kikon inaugurates the Foothill Road stretch from Doyang Bridge to Merapani sector, under the EE Baghty Division on May 23.
Full operation in one month; Bridge curing pending
Morung Express News
Wokha | May 23
The Foothill Road stretch from Doyang Bridge to Merapani sector, under the EE Baghty Division, was inaugurated by Achumbemo Kikon, MLA and Chairman of SDPDB Bhandari, on May 23 at Doyang Bridge. The project aims to improve road connectivity in the foothill areas of the 40 Bhandari Assembly Constituency.
Kikon expressed satisfaction that the road was completed according to approved specifications and within the stipulated timeframe. He noted that the project began on February 21, 2025, in Khumjo Yan village, Bhandari sub-division, Wokha district and was inaugurated on May 23, 2026, “exactly one year, three months, and two days.”
“This should have been completed within the specification of one year as per the work order. I have been waiting impatiently for the contractors to expedite the work, and today they have completed it as per the specification,” Kikon said.
Kikon noted that the road currently has a Granular Sub Base (GSB) layer, the only component sanctioned under the work order. “It is only one layer of GSB laying, so whatever was provided has been executed perfectly. I am satisfied, and we have opened the road,” he said.
He clarified that while the road work is complete, the bridge still needs time for mandatory curing. “The only thing remaining is the bridge, which requires a curing period. So we will have to wait one more month to make this road fully operational,” he added.
Responding to queries regarding the decision to inaugurate the road before completion of the bridges, Kikon explained that the surface road construction and bridge works were separate components executed by different agencies.
According to him, the surface road work, including earth cutting and GSB laying, has been undertaken by M/S Chabou & Co. and JK construction, while bridge construction had been assigned to separate firms. “The surface road and bridge construction are two different entities. As far as the surface road portion is concerned, it has been completed. Since I launched the project, it is also my duty to ensure that throughout the year it was monitored and completed within the stipulated time,” he said.
Kikon added that since the road portion had already been completed, delaying the inauguration for another month due to pending bridge curing would not have been practical. “We will wait for another month for the bridges to be completed and make the road fully operational for the public, but as far as the surface road is concerned, it is complete, so we felt it appropriate to inaugurate it on time according to the wishes of the people,” he added.
On the future of the project, Kikon appealed to the Government of Nagaland, particularly the Roads and Bridges Department, to sanction Phase-II works, including blacktopping of the existing stretch and extension of the Foothill Road towards the Changpang area, which remains uncovered under his constituency. “This is a very heavy traffic road. There are around 200 to 300 heavily loaded trucks plying through this road. Without blacktopping, the GSB layer may be washed away because of the heavy movement of vehicles,” he said.
He urged the government to prioritise funding for both blacktopping of the completed stretch and extension of the foothill road towards Changpang in the next phase to improve durability and connectivity in the region.
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