The Nagaland Foothill Road Construction Committee (NFHRCC) has expressed satisfaction with the physical progress of the Foothills Road construction under Peren and Tuli divisions — 55% in Tuli division by M/s 3S Infra and approx 20% of bridge construction by M/s Medodi Constructions & Co — and urged the department concerned to release running bills accordingly.
This followed visit of the construction sites under both the divisions by the committee’s office-bearers along with department officials on April 1 and 7.
The NFHRCC in a press release said though the joint inspection under Baghty division too was scheduled on April 5, the PWD executive engineer opted out of the visit at the eleventh hour following instruction by Bhandari legislator Achumbemo Kikon not to accompany the inspection team.
The committee claimed that the arbitrary action of the MLA contravened the role of the Public Works Department – Roads & Bridges minister, stating that its office-bearers went ahead with the inspection.
During the inspection, it was observed that construction of three bridges at Shanthatchu (Liphi), Jungju (Hayiyan) and Sungkhatchu (Longjung) rivers executed by M/s P Mha-Tum & Co, M/s Quinker Enterprises and M/s N Chiso Swu & Sons were satisfactory.
The committee however called for thorough examination of the bridge constructed over Jakvantchu river (Renthan) by M/s Ren Kik_EZJ & Co by department technicians, as there were evidences of using substandard materials at the base.
Furthermore, as the upgradation of land cutting project under three different work orders at Baghty division seemed to be uneven; the committee said it could not give any substantial comments on the technical completions of the works at this juncture.
The NFHRCC urged the department’s technical team to initiate joint inspections at these sites at the earliest and release the running bills appropriately at the three bridge construction sites.
Pointing out that while its sole objective was to encourage the government, the PWD (R&B) and contractors for transparent, qualitative and timely completion of the long-drawn demand for the Foothills Road, the committee said it was utterly shocked to see a people’s representative stopping the department to cooperate with justice and transparent seeking pressure group, which it maintained that it was a cross violation of democratic norms.
It urged the department to clarify on the matter, hoping that good sense would prevail among the public leaders soon.
The committee appreciated the initiatives of Ao Senden, Langpangkong Road Coordination Committee, Kuki Inpi, Zeliang People’s Organisation, Yanmhon Area Public Organisations and Western Sumi Hoho, and for diligently remaining vigilant and inspecting constructions sites in their respective project areas. It hoped that they would continue to do so till the historic Foothills Road project became a reality.
The committee requested the PWD (R&B) to respect and abide by the joint MoU as resolved on March 5, 2025, assured by the department and as desired by the PWD minister.
The NFHRCC strongly urged the department to immediately instruct the contractors who had not signed the MoU to immediately commence work in their respective areas, including the firm that had already signed the agreement for double-lane galvanised steel bridge construction over Tsumang river under Baghty division, so that running bills could be released by the department to the firms after joint verifications as per their performance without any bias or prejudice.