DIMAPUR, OCT 30 (NPN): Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has urged the state government to issue work orders for the second phase of the foothills road project under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), using the remaining Rs.282.27crore from the Rs.430.77 crore approved during 2024-25.
NFHRCC through its media cell called for the release of the funds within the current working season, warning that the public would not accept further delays in implementing a crucial infrastructure project for Nagaland.
The committee said the 395.9km foothills road, stretching from Khelma in Peren district to Tizit in Mon district, was initiated in 2013 with public cooperation. It said land measuring 40feet in width had been provided without compensation and Naga political groups had also extended cooperation without imposing taxation on the project.
However, NFHRCC lamented that the project had made little progress over the years, attributing the prolonged delay to what it described as a lack of political will and leadership in the state. To highlight the pace of infrastructure development elsewhere, the committee cited the 1,386km Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which began construction in 2019 and connects six states, saying it was nearing completion.
Describing the foothills road as indispensable to Nagaland’s economic growth, NFHRCC said improved connectivity would help generate resources and provide a foundation for broader development. It welcomed the proposed mega project but cautioned against allowing the existing road initiative to lose momentum.
According to the committee, Rs.148.5crore of the Rs.430.77crore approved under SASCI during 2024-25 had been utilised in the first phase, leaving Rs.282.27 crore for the second phase. NFHRCC alleged that the second-phase allocation, which it said should have been issued during 2025-26, had been ignored despite the poor condition of the road and the hardships faced by the public.
NFHRCC further expressed concern that elected representatives were not giving adequate attention to the project, alleging that efforts were being made to delay or avoid a key infrastructure initiative. It said the government had a responsibility to safeguard public interests and fulfil its development commitments.
The committee also said declaring Nagaland a “Land of Festivals” could not compensate for uneven development and the hardships faced by people.
Stating that it was not opposed to festivals and celebrations, the committee cautioned against prioritising them over essential infrastructure and warned that celebrations funded through borrowing, without adequate resources, could burden the state exchequer.
Stressing that roads were fundamental to development, NFHRCC said the foothills road could help generate economic activity and strengthen the state’s resource base.
Saturday, October 31, 2026