Nagaland govt snubs NFHRCC ahead of consultative meet on Foothills Road

The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has raised serious concerns over its exclusion from the upcoming April 30, 2025 consultative meeting called by the State Government to deliberate on the ongoing Foothills Road project.

The NFHRCC — a body endorsed by 12 Apex Tribal Hohos and long seen as the custodian of public consensus on the road — was absent from the list of invitees to the high-level meeting. The Committee called the move a betrayal of the “Nagaland People’s Road” dream and warned of deeper motives behind the omission.

In a statement, the Committee alleged that vested political interests, possibly linked to influential contractor lobbies and a few legislators, are seeking to undercut the NFHRCC’s role — in violation of the 2013 tripartite understanding between the Government, the Department concerned, and stakeholders.

ALSO READ: The Concept of the FOOTHILLS ROAD, its initiation, funding pattern, and progress over the years 1974- 2025 | NFHRCC

“What really is the intention of a few Legislators to cut the NFHRCC to size?” the Committee asked, pointing to the potential sanction of a second or third phase of the project, with an estimated budget of ¹ 800–1000 crore, as a likely trigger.

The NFHRCC further cautioned that any deviation from the original road alignment, unless “inevitable and justifiable,” would be firmly opposed. It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, inclusion, and quality in the execution of a project it views as critical to dignified road connectivity across Nagaland.

It also issued a call to other tribal apex bodies not yet affiliated with the movement to join hands, framing the road as a matter of historical rectification and common destiny. While strongly opposing interference and manipulation, the Committee also emphasized its support for fair tenders, responsible fund allocation, and protection of contractors from arbitrary taxation.

MT