Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee reiterates demand for immediate completion of Foothills Road

Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC), after fresh consultations with tribal hohos, has once again issued a strong call to the State government to complete the Tizit-Khelma two-lane foothills road without further delay, stressing that no new ventures should be taken up until the existing stretch is finished.
In a statement, NFHRCC said the Phase-II SASCI loan component must be released to all remaining divisions at the earliest and through an open tender system. The committee said it was utterly shocked to learn of major defects in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) under Baghty division. Out of five ongoing double-lane solid galvanized steel bridges and 41-km upgradation from Doyang Bridge-Governor’s Camp, Liphanyan to Merapani foothills point, the committee found no embankment, no side walls, and no retaining walls across the entire stretch.
NFHRCC said that during several joint inspection visits, departmental officials failed to offer adequate explanation, while overall progress of works remained “abysmally slow”. Consequently, in its December 5 resolution, the committee entrusted the Lotha Hoho along with LLRPO, YAPO and subordinate bodies to urgently convene a meeting with the concerned contractor firms and divisional officials to address discrepancies and ensure early completion of the People’s Road.
It also urged NPWD (Roads & Bridges) to immediately strengthen the manpower at Baghty division, observing an acute shortage of field staff despite the division handling the longest stretch of the Foothills Road Project.
NFHRCC expressed hope that the department would act with seriousness and leave no stone unturned to deliver justice without prejudice.