Kohima: Civil society groups are pressuring the Nagaland government to fix shoddy construction on the Foothills Road. The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation, joined by Lotha Hoho, the student union, and the Foothills Road Coordination Committee, issued the demand following a September 4 meeting in Dimapur. Officials from the PWD R&B Baghty Division ignored the inspection and the meeting. This absence was inappropriate.
Inspectors found major failures. At Tsumang Bridge, the toe wall collapsed due to flawed design. Excavation needs were far beyond original plans. The load capacity of this steel-panel bridge remains unknown. At Shanthatchu River, M/S N. Chiso & Sons completed their work but hit a snag with road leveling. They want the remaining 94 lakh rupees to finish the job. M/S Quinker Enterprises is finishing work at Jungju River, though department technical teams previously diverted the river course without planning for embankments. M/S P-Mha Tum & Co reported rain delays on their bridge project.
Construction quality looks poor elsewhere. M/S JK Constructions used third-grade sand on a culvert wall. Other culverts lack vital protection against erosion. These are not minor issues. “The Foothill Road is a lifeline, not a routine project,” the LLRPO stated. The group wants the Chief Minister and top engineers to inspect the work personally. They also demand the start of Phase-II during the dry season. The road serves as a crucial alternative to Assam routes, connecting farmers to markets and hospitals. The group is finished with empty promises. “The people of the Lower Range and the Nagas in general have waited long enough. What is required now is not another assurance, but decisive action,” the organization said.
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