Dimapur, October 27 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has urged the Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges) to take immediate steps to ensure timely completion of the Foothills Road project, as several contracts approach their deadline in December 2025.
During its meeting held on October 25, the Committee reviewed the progress of the project and adopted a series of resolutions aimed at expediting pending works and improving transparency in implementation.
In a statement issued by its Media Cell, the NFHRCC said it has “strongly urged upon NPWD (R&B) once again to impress upon the concerned contractor firms on the 17 work orders issued last year, whose time frame will be expiring in December 2025, to complete the work on time as per the contract work order signed with the State Government.”
The Committee reiterated its call to the department to “immediately complete the DPR for the 2nd Phase SASCI Loan Scheme for the remaining portion of the 2-lane Foothills Road construction.”
It also resolved to demand that the State Government “fully complete the ongoing 2-lane Foothills Road construction first while pursuing further with the Union Government for its upgradation to that of National Highway status.”
To ensure transparency, the NFHRCC insisted that the department “invite an open tender system for the remaining works till the project was made fully motorable.” It further suggested limiting each contractor’s work allocation to “only 10–15 km per single contractor firm as per their merits,” stating that this would “facilitate and encourage young qualified Naga entrepreneurs on transparency and competency.”
The Committee also sought an appointment with the Chief Minister to discuss the way forward on the Foothills Road project, noting that repeated requests for a meeting since November 2022 have yet to be granted. It expressed concern that the lack of such an interface has delayed progress on critical matters requiring government attention.
The NFHRCC said the project remains vital for connecting multiple districts of Nagaland without traversing through Assam and for enhancing inter-district trade, transport, and accessibility.
