Kohima: The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) wants the state government to issue second-phase work orders for the Foothills Road project immediately. They expect the release of Rs 282.27 crore under the SASCI budget before the current working season ends. The state has already used Rs 148.5 crore of the approved Rs 430.77 crore during the first phase.
This massive infrastructure project spans 395.9 kilometers. It connects Khelma in Peren district to Tizit in Mon district. Workers started the road in 2013 with full public support, including donated land and no taxation from local political groups. Fourteen years later, progress remains stalled.
The committee did not hold back in its assessment. They stated the project has been “lingering for the last 14 years without much headway which manifests the lack of political will or lack of leadership in the state.” They pointed to the 1,386-kilometer Delhi-Mumbai Expressway as a failure of local governance, noting that a project started in 2019 is nearly finished while Nagaland projects rot.
Officials ignored the second phase of construction. The NFHRCC demanded a formal explanation from the government if the work orders are not issued. They argued that celebrating festivals with borrowed money is unwise while the public suffers from poor infrastructure. The committee warned that if authorities continue to block progress, the public will object. They maintained that the government must protect public rights instead of obstructing vital construction.
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