Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) has appealed to the chief minister to expedite and complete the long-awaited Nagaland Foothill Road project, citing compelling reasons and highlighting the hardships faced by the public.
In a representation, NTC president C. Pankathung Lotha and general secretary C. Onen Walling stated that unlike other states where the general public have access to waterways, railways, and airways for movement and transportation of goods, Nagaland is left with only road communication for such purposes. It observed that the state’s topography and geography limit alternative modes of connectivity.
The council pointed out that most Naga public depend on roads, railways, and airways in Assam for travel, including for medical treatment and movement outside Nagaland.
It stated that such dependence has become common, though it often proves unsafe, expensive, and time-consuming.
NTC alleged that Nagas face “unnecessary hassles/inconveniences” such as arrests, detention, payment of illegal fines, and extortion for minor reasons while using routes in Assam.
It added that such issues have persisted over the years, placing the public at the mercy of the neighbouring state, while VIPs and government officials do not face similar difficulties.
Further, the council stated that the common Naga public face both mental and physical harassment on a daily basis and incur unnecessary loss of time, money, and resources due to lack of adequate internal road connectivity within the state. Mentioning additional concerns, NTC claimed that many innocent Nagas have lost their lives in Assam jails after being suspected as underground cadres, while others were allegedly subjected to torture or implicated in legal cases, leading to huge financial burdens.
It further stated that issues arising out of the Naga political issue and border conflicts have resulted in loss of lives, torture, and alleged confiscation of land in districts such as Mokokchung, Mon, Longleng, Niuland, Dimapur, and Wokha.
In this regard, the council urged the state government to recognise the plight of the people living in areas adjoining Assam and to take all necessary steps to ensure completion of the Foothill Road project without further delay.
NTC further stated that there should be no political interest or monetary benefits attached to the project and asserted that the government and construction agencies should not deduct even “one percent commission” from the project.
It also mentioned that Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang has contributed several lakhs of rupees towards the project and appealed to social organisations, business communities, and individuals, including VIPs, to extend support for its timely completion, stating that it is a “Nagaland public road project”.
The council maintained that the government, being mandated by the people, has the right and obligation to complete the project for the safety, interest, and welfare of the public, and stressed that failure to deliver would amount to disservice to the people.
15 Tribe Hohos back foothill road upgradation
The 15 Nagaland Tribe Hohos have reiterated the importance of the consultative meeting held on April 7 at Capital Convention Centre, Kohima, convened by the State government through the National Highways and PWD (R&B) departments.
In a press release, the Hohos welcomed the collective understanding reached during the meeting and reaffirmed their support for upgrading the Nagaland Foothill Road into a two-lane National Highway.
They strongly urged the state government to expedite necessary proposals and pursue the matter with the Government of India at the earliest in order to translate the consensus into concrete action.
Further, the Tribal Hohos assured their full cooperation to the state government in facilitating the process, including extending support in engaging with landowners to ensure an amicable and mutually acceptable outcome for land required for the proposed two-lane highway.
At the same time, the Hohos appealed to the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) to exercise patience and allow the government reasonable time to move forward with the process. They also urged both the State government and NFHRCC to engage in constructive dialogue to arrive at an amicable understanding in the larger interest of the people.
The hohos reaffirmed their commitment to unity and cooperation and collective advancement of all sections of the Naga society through this important infrastructure initiative.