Committee says land provided free for 40-ft road; questions delay in Phase II work orders
Dimapur, March 14 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has issued a clarification on certain facts and figures regarding the ongoing Foothills Road construction following a press statement released on March 13.
In a statement issued on March 14, the committee said the Foothills Road project was initiated in 2013 as a “people’s road” by the NFHRCC and endorsed by the then 10 apex Naga tribal hohos with the knowledge and cooperation of the NPWD (Roads and Bridges) under the patronage of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. Later, organisations such as the NZPO, Kuki Inpi Nagaland, Tikhir Union and Western Chakhesang Hoho joined the initiative.
The road was conceptualised to connect Tizit to Dimapur, with the public appealing to the state government to provide a dignified motorable road while offering land free of compensation for a 40-ft road width and exemption from any form of taxation by NNPGs. Accordingly, no-objection certificates (NOCs) were collected from landowners through their respective tribal hohos in 2013 and handed over to the chief minister in 2018, the committee said.
Later, the state government proposed renaming the project as the Trans Nagaland Highway in 2018 and extended the connectivity up to Khelma in Peren district, covering a distance of about 398.5 km from Tizit.
The committee reiterated the public demand for completion of the proposed two-lane road using the 40-ft NOCs already provided without compensation.
On contractor selection, the NFHRCC claimed there was evidence of political involvement despite official denials, citing public speeches and a written communication in which the MLA of 40 Bhandari Assembly Constituency reportedly stated that he had scrutinised the credentials of firms, including M/S JK Constructions and M/S Chabou & Co, and recommended them after receiving assurances that the firms would invest their own resources if government funds were delayed.
Regarding the SASCI loan scheme for Phase II of the project up to Khelma, the committee said administrative approval had already been obtained and the blacktopping of the two-lane road was expected to be completed by 2027. However, it expressed concern over the delay in issuing Phase II work orders, stating that the SASCI scheme is performance-based.
Under Phase I, 17 work orders worth Rs 148.5 crore were issued with a 12-month completion period ending in December 2025, which has been extended to March 31, 2026, the statement said.
The NFHRCC also clarified funding details, stating that around Rs 70 crore sanctioned in 2013-14 was under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) scheme with a 90:10 Centre-state funding pattern, while Rs 30 crore sanctioned in 2021-22 was likely from state government resources. Another Rs 148.5 crore was sanctioned under the SASCI soft loan scheme for a 50-year period.
Therefore, claims that the entire Rs 245.5 crore for the project came solely from state resources were misleading, the committee said.
The NFHRCC added that the objective of the committee and the tribal hohos is to support the state government in completing the strategic road from Tizit to Khelma, while also protecting contractors from taxation or harassment so that Nagaland can achieve improved connectivity, economic growth and employment opportunities.
