Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) and the Western Rengma Hoho (WRH) have strongly appealed to the state government to expedite the long-pending two-lane Nagaland Foothills Road project, spanning approximately 395km from Khelma in Peren district to Tizit in Mon district.
In a press release, NCD president GK Rengma and general secretary LK Peter Anal, emphasised that Dimapur serves as the common home for all Nagas and the central hub for road connectivity in the state.
The council said that the proposed foothills road, envisioned since 1974, aims to provide safe and convenient movement of travellers and transporters between the above two extremities of Nagaland.
NCD said it also aims to bypass dependencies on routes passing through Assam that frequently faced disruptions due to bandhs, border disputes, and other inconveniences.
Highlighting the hardships faced by Naga travellers and transporters when travelling via Assam, NCD underscored the urgent need for this alternative route to ensure free movement, boost economic growth, and enable better utilization of natural resources across districts.
NCD expressed appreciation to chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio for his prompt understanding of the people’s needs and for allocating the necessary funds to advance the project. However, NCD expressed concern that progress in certain divisions was lagging, which could delay the second phase and overall completion.
The council has appealed for mutual cooperation among all stakeholders to resolve any pending issues at the earliest, before the onset of the monsoon season.
NCD described the foothills road as a “lifeline” for the districts it traverses and a convergence point for arterial roads from every district in Nagaland.
NCD Has, therefore, urged the state government to expedite the project in line with public expectations. It recalled the joint survey of the alignment conducted in 2013 by PWD (R&B) and the Nagaland Foothills Road Co-ordination Committee (NFRCC), along with the generous contribution of landowners who provided a 40-foot width alignment without demanding compensation, facilitated through their respective Tribal Hohos.
Reaffirming its solidarity with the representations made by Dimapur-based tribal hohos, NCD affirmed support for early completion of the foothills road, stressing it would be for the common benefit of all the citizens of Nagaland.
WRH: Western Rengma Hoho (WRH) through its president Er. Njilo Kemp and general secretary Niyalo Ghaponza, described the Foothills Road as a genuine and long-felt necessity that would benefit every section of society by enhancing connectivity, spurring economic development, and improving accessibility statewide.
Appreciating the government’s visionary efforts to upgrade the road to National Highway status, WRH expressed concern that such a major transformation could take considerable time.
It, therefore, stressed the urgent need to prioritise and complete the ongoing two-lane project, which has been under construction for over a decade.
WRH also endorsed the February 21, 2026 memorandum by the Dimapur-based Naga tribal hohos, which called for issuance of the second-phase work order on or before March 31, 2026.
The hoho appealed to the state government to seriously consider the representation and take prompt, decisive steps to ensure uninterrupted progress and timely completion of this vital infrastructure project in the larger interest of the Naga people.