Nagaland: Kaito inspects ongoing foothills road works

Nagaland’s PWD (R&B) minister, G Kaito Aye, conducted a high-level on-site inspection of the strategic foothills road project in the Niuland and Baghty sections on February 7, 2026.
The minister, who was accompanied by PWD (R&B) chief engineer and other senior departmental officials, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to people-centric infrastructure development.
He described the foothills road as a transformative corridor, which would enhance connectivity, boost economic growth, and reduce regional disparities across Nagaland.
Asserting that roads shape the destiny of the people, Kaito Aye said the foothills road was not merely infrastructure but a pathway to opportunity, unity, and prosperity for Nagaland. He stressed that the project remained a top priority for the state. In the Niuland section, the minister reviewed the upgradation of an existing 8.6km stretch to two-lane standards up to the GSB layer, the construction of a 120-foot double-lane modular steel bridge, and the black-topping of a 7km connectivity road to Rengmapani village.
Expressing satisfaction with the quality of work, Kaito noted disciplined execution and effective field supervision in this section.
In the Baghty section, he assessed three stretches totalling 38.6km, along with one 80-foot and four 50-foot modular steel bridges. The minister observed that all bridge abutments were complete, modular components had begun arriving on site, and erection was expected to commence within February.
Acknowledging past delays in earlier phases due to prolonged monsoons and coordination challenges, the minister addressed recent correspondence between the department and contractors.
The minister noted that while some communication gaps had occurred previously, his physical inspection showed visible acceleration of work on the ground. Cautioning against such gaps in the future, he called for closer, more regular coordination among all stakeholders.
The minister explained that, as per departmental procedure, formal notices were issued when progress lags, requiring contractors to explain delays and seek justified time extensions where applicable.
While recognizing that delays could occur in construction projects, he directed contractors to ramp up machinery and manpower deployment to fully utilize the current working season.
“Delays may happen, but complacency will not be accepted,” he warned.
In response, the contractors assured the minister that all assigned works would be completed by March 31, 2026. They also committed to submitting detailed work plans and any necessary justifications for time extensions by the same deadline. Welcoming the assurance, the minister said “a deadline is a promise to the people, and I expect it to be honoured with sincerity and professionalism.”
Further, he instructed technical staff in the Baghty division, PWD (R&B), to provide full cooperation to contractors while enforcing strict quality control.
This was stated in a press release issued by PS to minister PWD (R&B), Aronto Jimo.