FHR project delayed due to land issues: Rio

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has acknowledged that land availability and alignment challenges are delaying progress on the long-pending Foothill Road (FHR) project, even as the Centre has expressed willingness to support the initiative under certain conditions.
Responding to a starred question during the ongoing Assembly session, Rio addressed queries raised by MLA Achumbemo Kikon on proposals for upgrading Wokha-Bokajan and Aghunato-Shamator roads, while also speaking on the broader Foothill Road project. He expressed surprise over reports of a “Foothill Road Committee” issuing an ultimatum to the government to allocate funds by March 31, questioning its authority and reiterating that the project was initiated by the state government itself.
Recalling his tenure as Works and Housing minister in 1993, Rio said the project had faced opposition from Assam due to boundary disputes. Although the Centre recognized its importance, financial support was not forthcoming, prompting the state to begin work with its own resources.
He stressed that alignment must strictly follow the foothill stretch, noting that deviations in Wokha and Peren districts had caused difficulties for long-distance travellers.
Rio informed the House that the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had agreed to support the project, provided the state made 30 metres of land available free of cost and secured forest and environmental clearances.
Since the road has not been declared a National Highway, compensation for agricultural land cannot be provided under NH provisions, though property damages may be considered.
He added that development requires voluntary land contribution, emphasizing that the Foothill Road could generate significant economic opportunities, especially for youth and hilltop villages. Rio also referred to a parallel railway line from Tizit to Dimapur, approved in 2011-12, which continues to receive token allocations but faces similar land acquisition hurdles.
Rio said the Cabinet has directed deputy commissioners to consult tribal hohos through District Planning and Development Boards (DPDBs) to seek voluntary land contributions. Despite a three-month window, no positive outcome has been achieved. “Infrastructure cannot be built in the air or sky,” Rio remarked, stressing that land availability remains the key to progress.
Earlier raising the matter through a starred question in the ongoing Assembly session, NPF Legislator Achumbemo Kikon underscored the importance of the Wokha–Bokajan Road, describing it as a vital route not only for residents of Wokha district but also for commuters from Noklak, Shamator, Tuensang, Mokokchung, and Zunheboto travelling towards Kohima and Dimapur.
Kikon informed the House that the road was originally constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) in 1991-92 and maintained by the agency for over a decade before being handed over to the state’s Roads and Bridges department. At present, the stretch is divided between two departmental divisions. He pointed out that the condition of the road had deteriorated significantly after the transfer, prompting the Lotha Hoho to submit memoranda to the Governor in 2019, 2022, and 2023, requesting that the road be handed back to BRO due to poor maintenance.
Highlighting further concerns, Kikon noted the collapse of one of the bridges along the route and said no progress had been made on constructing a replacement. He urged the government to consider entrusting the road again to BRO or another capable agency if the department lacked resources for proper upkeep.
Taking part in the discussion, Nagaland Roads and Bridges Minister G. Kaito Aye acknowledged the difficulties in maintaining the Wokha–Bokajan road, citing resource constraints and unresolved bridge construction as major hurdles.
Kaito explained that the road was originally constructed in 1992-93 under a one-time grant from the North Eastern Council and entrusted to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). In 2004-05, about 70 km of the 105-km stretch was handed over to the state PWD (R&B), while the remaining 35 km continued under BRO. He admitted that maintenance of the 70-km section by the department has been challenging, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Kaito further noted that the 35-km stretch under BRO includes a major bridge spanning 60 metres, which had collapsed. BRO has proposed reconstruction, and the state government decided not to take over the remaining portion until the bridge is completed and the entire stretch formally handed over. He assured that the latest status would be obtained from BRO and placed before the State Planning Board, as the department lacks sufficient funds for major improvements.
On the Aghunato–Shamator road, Kaito informed that the total length is 69 km, of which 28 km has been taken up under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Work is progressing slowly, but he expressed confidence that this section would be completed by 2026. The remaining portion, he said, would be taken up under appropriate schemes in the future.
He added that the road forms part of a proposed National Highway from Showuba to Pangsha. Discussions have been held with deputy commissioners and civil society groups to secure no-objection certificates from landowners, as the Centre requires land to be provided free of cost for such projects.
Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge of National Highways, T.R. Zeliang, informed the Nagaland Legislative Assembly that the Prime Minister’s Office has directed that no new National Highways will be declared across the country until further orders.
However, he said the Centre has acknowledged the importance of the Foothill Road for Nagaland’s economic development. Referring to a communication from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Zeliang explained that the ministry could consider declaring the Foothill Road as a National Highway and undertake its development only after the state government ensures availability of a minimum 30-metre right-of-way free of cost and secures statutory clearances.
He stated that the government has directed district planning boards to hold discussions with tribal hohos and landowners to obtain consent for providing land. If these conditions are met, the Centre is prepared to prepare a detailed project report and fully fund the project.
Zeliang said the Foothill Road project, stretching from Tizit to Khelma, is estimated to cost around Rs.2,500 crore and would be entirely funded by the Centre without requiring state contribution. He urged legislators to take the matter seriously and engage with civil society organizations and tribal bodies in their districts so the state can communicate a positive response to the Centre and move the project forward.