State Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges) has issued a factual rebuttal to recent assertions made by the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC). The department aims to clarify administrative positions regarding land acquisition, contractor selection, and project funding.
Clarifying the “Roads in the Sky” remark: The department stated that the chief minister’s remark was taken out of context. It pointed out that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) required a minimum 30-metre Right of Way (RoW) to declare the Foothill Road a National Highway.
However, the department said that landowners and tribal bodies had only offered 12 metres free of cost. The chief minister’s comment highlighted the impossibility of building a mega-project when federal funding conditions-specifically land availability-are not met.
Contractor selection: The department termed as baseless allegations of political interference in hiring contractors. All work orders were awarded through transparent tender formalities based on merit and eligibility. The department noted that recent “Show Cause” notices issued to M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co on February 4, 2026, proved that contractors were being held to strict standards of quality and progress.
Project phases: It said the minister’s assurance to complete the road by 2027 applies strictly to the first phase of the project under the SASCI scheme, valued at Rs.148.5 crore. The department clarified that no commitments had been made regarding a second phase under SASCI.
PWD (R&B) maintained that the total cost of the project exceeded its independent financial capacity. Despite this, the state invested Rs.245.50 crore of its own funds since 2013-14 without central assistance.
Central funding: The department said the state has consistently pursued federal support for over a decade: In 2016, MoRTH approved a feasibility study and DPR; 2018: The project scope was expanded to include Tizit, Tuli, Jalukie, and Athibung; 2023: The project was proposed under the PM Gati Shakti initiative following meetings with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.
Current Obstacles
In May 2025, MoRTH reiterated that National Highway status depends on two factors: a 30-metre encumbrance-free RoW and environmental clearances. While forest clearances are secured, land acquisition remains a hurdle. Several districts have only provided NOCs for a 12-metre width, demanding compensation for any additional land. Furthermore, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from Mokokchung and Peren districts are still outstanding.
The department reaffirms its commitment to the project but emphasizes that local cooperation regarding land width is essential to unlock the necessary central funding.
NPWD (Roads & Bridges) also clarified that the ongoing push for a 30-metre Right of Way (RoW) is a direct prerequisite for National Highway status and Central funding, rather than a requirement for the project’s second phase under the SASCI scheme.
Aimed at managing public expectations, NPWD emphasized that it is merely relaying the strict conditions imposed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). Until these federal mandates are met, the state remains committed to exploring all alternative funding avenues to keep the project alive. It said while no specific guarantee was given that the second phase would fall under the SASCI scheme, officials assured stakeholders that every effort is being made to secure resources under any suitable program.
NPWD also reaffirmed its “unequivocal commitment” to the Foothill Road, describing it as a top priority. However, it also called for public transparency regarding significant “unavoidable hindrances.” These include rigid Central Government procedural requirements, the necessity of statutory clearances, and the logistical difficulties posed by Nagaland’s rugged terrain.
“These are not impediments of the Government’s making, but challenges being addressed with urgency,” the department stated. Soliciting the cooperation of all sections of society, the PWD (R&B) assured the public that it will continue to exhaust all State and Central resources until this “long-cherished” road is finally delivered to the people.