The NFHRCC is once again constrained to clarify on the following points on the PRESS STATEMENT released on March 13th 2026 by NPWD,Road & Bridge on certain facts and figures regarding the ongoing Foothills Road Constructions.
1. The progress of the Foothills Road which was started as peoples’ road initiated by NFHRCC as endorsed by the then 10 Apex Naga Tribal HOHOs in 2013 with full knowledge and co-operation of the NPWD,Road & Bridge, under the patronage of the Hon’ble CM,Dr.N Rio. Later the NZPO and KUKI INPI,Nagaland, Tikhir Union and Western Chakhesang HOHO joined the NFHRCC making its membership 14 Nagaland Tribal HOHOs.
It was started with the sole aim to connect Tizit to Dimapur to provide a dignified motorable road with a unison People’s appeal to the State Government “Give us a dignified road and we will provide land free of compensation demand for 40 feet width, and from any sort of Taxation from the NNPGs as well. Accordingly, NOC was collected from the land owners through their respective Tribal HOHOs in 2013.At the request of the Hon’ble CM the Original NOC was handed over to him in 2018.
Later, the State Government under the able leadership of Dr.N.Rio proposed to rechristen it to “ TRANS NAGALAND HIGHWAY” in 2018 and enhance the connectivity up till KHELMA in Peran District covering a distance of 398.5 kms from TIZIT. The demand of the Nagaland PUBLIC to the popular State Government is to complete the proposed 2 Lane Road connectivity first with the 40 ft NOC already provided to the Government without claiming any compensation. Since mobilising the requisite resources is under the prerogative of the State Government, it must explore ways and means to provide the basic needs of the People.
2. On selection of the contractors in the Phase 1, in spite of the Department denial for any Political interference, it was evident that the Hon’ble MLA of 40 Bhandari Assembly Constituency that on several public Speech and a written letter to the LOTHA HOHO that confidently admitting that he had personally scrutinise the credentials of the firms particularly M/S JK Constructions and M/S Chabou & Co at Baghty Division and had recommended the firms claiming that he had even obtained assurance from both the firms that they will invest their own resources to complete the works even if the State Government fails to release funds on time. The evidence can be seen in various digital social media and a letter personally written by him are available for further verification if necessary.
3. In regard to the SASCI Loan Scheme 2nd Phase of the 2 lane foothills road project up till Khelma, an administrative approval from the State Government was already obtained and it was clearly discussed that the whole process of providing a black topping 2 Lane Foothills road in the entire stretch will be completed in 2027.However,since SASCI Scheme is a performance based LOAN scheme, the concerned Department instead of providing a valid reasons for the delay of issuing the 2nd PHASE WORK Orders the earliest denying its given assurance was utterly shocking and can be termed as a betrayal to the Nagaland People.
Under PHASE 1, all the 17 Work Orders worth 148.5 crore was allocated for a period of 12 months which the completion dateline was expired technically in December 2025 and under certain circumstances the Department had extended the completion period to 31st March 2026. Therefore, the concerned Department is urged upon not to keep on confusing the innocent public further without holding much substance.
4. The amount sanctioned of:
a) About Rs.70 cr in 2013-14 under the able leadership of our Hon’ble
CM,Dr.N.Rio was under SPA fund which was on the basis of 90/10 Central-State assistance projects.
b) Rs.30 Crores sanction in 2021- 2022 was probably under the State Government
resource under a generous consideration of our Hon’ble CM on Public demand.
c) Rs.148.5 Crores Sanctioned under SASCI soft Loan scheme for a period of 50 years.
Thus the NPWD,Road and Bridges tall claims of Rs,245.5 Crores were entirely derived from the State own resources appears misleading.
In reality, the sole aim of the NFHRCC and the Tribal HOHOs is to strengthened the hands of the successive State Government particularly on this Historic Nagaland Survival from Tizit to Khelma and also to protect the works of the Contractor firms from unabated Taxation from different factors so that the People of Nagaland shall have a dignified connectivity road within our own State which will improvise the State economy and address the unemployment issue to a considerable extend.
Therefore, the NFHRCC once again appealed to the concerned Department not to surreptitiously undermine the unified voices of the People further.
Issued by : The Media Cell, NFHRCC
14th March 2026.