The Genealogy:
- First attempt:
It was said to have been attempted in 1974-75, proposed by the then Cabinet Minister late Shri Mhondamo Kithan (40 Bhandari A/C) under the leadership of late Shri Vizol Angami CM and Shri SC Jamir as the Dy. CM and later during his short stint as the CM. Result: Mission abandoned.
- Second attempt:
In 1993 while Shri N.Rio was the Minister In charge for NPWD, Road & Bridges under the CM ship of Dr.SC Jamir reportedly attempted by the GoN. Result – Abandoned due to reportedly strong opposition from the neighboring State.
Therefore, on both occasions initiated by the Government miserably set aside and abandoned. Whatever the reasons may be the setback, still we must thank the State Government.
- The 3rd attempt:
In 2013 – Due to pressing need and genuine desires to have a dignified Road within our own state, the real Concept of the foothills road linking between Tizit to Dimapur was reignited and this time it was initiated by CSO under the aegis of Nagaland Foothills Road coordination committee ( NFHRCC) Spearheaded by Ao Senden then backed by the CNTC,later it was migrated to the 10 Naga Tribal Apex HOHOs. The Govt of Nagaland under the leadership of Shri N. Rio, CM,GoN, the PWD, R&B, and the NFHRCC painstakingly executed the alignment of the NFHR project which is also recognized as Naga Historic Survival Road.
Why the Foothills Road called an extra-ordinary project ?
a. Because ,it is the unison voice of 10 Naga Tribes to bail out the Nagas from the yoke of humiliation and unreasonable harassments due to the lack of a dignified road connectivity within our own state.
b. A vision to improvise the socio economic welfare of the people living in the foothills on the border area of Nagaland where for decades, the poor farmers were deprive of their livelihood owing to the lack of proper road connectivity and market linkages within the state of Nagaland.
c. Landowners parted their lands without even a penny of compensation.
d. Non state actors fully agreed upon to exempt taxes;popular Govt.agreed to put extraordinary efforts to meet the aspiration of the people. Therefore, the Foothills Road is also called an extraordinary Project.
e. The Nature of the Foothills Road project was being an extra Ordinary,the Govt.of Nagaland had fully endorsed the Department of Public Works,R&B and the NFHRCC for a joint Survey of alignments and had fully authorized the committee to select contractors and green signal was given to build the road on credit till; the time the Government could mobilize the requisite funds.
Thereby, On June 13,2013,marathon meeting was convened comprising of tribes, Ao, Lotha, Sema, Konyak, Phom, Rengma, Chang,Yimkhiung, Sangtam and Khiamniungan in the said meeting, the following resolutions were adopted among others namely,
(i) The FHR should be constructed within the definition of Foothill Road. It is also resolved to pray before the landowners not to take land compensation for the proposed FHR constructions.
(ii) To appeal before the freedom fighters to be exempt from taxation the proposed Foothills constructions.
(iii) Not to politicize the Nagaland Foothills Road project in any manner whatsoever.
(iv) On July 17,2013,the NFHRCC members met the then Hon’ble Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri N.Rio, thereon, the Hon’ble CM fully assured that his Govt,will take up the project on priority and further assured to the committee members not to worry for the fund as Govt.is well prepared to take care of the financial matter.
(v) On July 23, 2013, a meeting was held with all the Hon’ble border MLAs at Saramati Hotel, proposed Foothills road project will not be politicized in any forms.
(vi) On August 14, 2013, prayer and fasting was organized to invoke the Almighty God’s blessings. Then on September 24, 2013, the first survey was conducted by the NFHRCC with acute hardship and difficulties.
(vii) Accordingly, on December 21, 2013, the historic construction was 1st launched at Longtho sector and then subsequently on December 27th 2013 at Changpang (ONGC), Baghty Division.
Being an extra ordinary by concept, ABAM ( AO BAPTIST AROGO MONDANG) had mobilized through its congregations an amount of Rs 36,56,282/-(in words Rupees thirty six lakhs fifty six thousand two hundred eighty two only ) to the NFHRCC, but the committee being a coordinating body but not a construction team by nature had let ABAM handed over the donated funds by Cheque to the Hon’ble CM in his Office Chamber in person on June 26th 2019 by the Executive Secretary, ABAM accompanied by representatives of the NFHRCC.
The Foothills Road Project being a concerted effort by nature, the Committee had also written a letter of request to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi on October 19th 2019 through the kind Office of the Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland Shri RN Ravi for up gradation of the Trans Nagaland Expressway(foothills Road) to that of National Highway Status.
The NOC obtained through the Apex Tribal HOHOs was handed over to the Hon’ble CM Shri N.Rio on his request to enable the CE Testing Company Pvt. Ltd,Kolkota, chartered by the MoRTH for detail Scaled survey of the Trans Nagaland Expressway(Foothills Road).
The then CM of Nagaland was kind enough to arrange a centrally assisted fund under SPA in 2013 for about 70 crore. Then, the Hon’ble CM relinquished his post and went to New Delhi as an MP (Lok Sabha). Aftermath, the NDA Govt. abolished the Planning commission and subsequently NITI AYOG came into being. SPA funding system too was also abolished in the country thus all funding under SPA stops including the Foothills roads, yet the crusade of the Foothills road continue unabated by the NFHRCC; the Doyang Bridge at Governor’s Camp was paused for a while during 2014-2018 due to certain reasons including demonetization under NDA regime as well as the ULB movement (JCC) in 2016-17 etc. During 2013-18 saw several CM changes in the State like the musical chair. Yet, the NFHRCC never gives up the issues of the Foothills road.
In 2018 Shri N. Rio returned back to the state as the Hon’ble CM. He was also one of the instrumental to rechristen the FHR into Trans Nagaland Expressway which will also connect Khelma in Peren District covering a distance of over 395 kms. His Govt. had also reached out to MORTH, New Delhi, in response MORTH had deputed an independent firm, the CE Testing & Infra Co.ltd for a complete & comprehensive Survey on the Foothills road where the NFHRCC had fully cooperated with CE Testing & Co with full knowledge of the Govt. On the strength of it, the state Govt. had even submitted a DPR costing a considerable amount to MORTH, GOI for possible funding andup gradation to NH status. All these years of FHR journey, the concerned Department and the NFHRCC had been undoubtedly closely working hard in a concerted manner.
In 2018-19, the NFHRCC family rose to 12 Tribal HOHOs initiatives with Kuki INPI, Nagaland and NZPO joined the Foothills road Mission crusaders.
In 2021, due to mounding public pressures, the NFHRCC had literally compelled/ forced the State Govt. to inject INR 30 crore to keep the Foothills roads project alive in making it jeep able road at least during dry season in 2021-22 while waiting for the Mega project to be approved by New Delhi. Subsequently, the twice abandoned longest Bridge in Nagaland, measuring 442.25 ft span in length over River Doyang, Governors’ camp Liphanyan, Baghty Division was inaugurated online by the Hon’ble Union Home Minister,Shri Amit Shah at Niathu Resort on January 6th 2023 and a dedicatory program was subsequently performed by the NFHRCC on January 29th 2023.
After lots of cohesive effort done, in 2023-24, the NFHRCC had also met the Hon’ble Governor of Nagaland Shri La.Ganesan and apprised him of the NLA Resolution adopted in September 22, 2022 to construct the Foothills Road under NEC funding for his possible intervention, following it, the Committee had also met the Hon’ble Union Minister of DONER Shri G.Kishan Reddy at New Delhi in December 20th 2023.Over and above ,the Govt. of Nagaland also made an effort, consequent upon which the project was roped in under SASCI Scheme soft loan in the 1st Phase amounting to Rs. 148.5 crore in 2023-24 fiscal year.
Then suddenly comes the controversial issue of Contractor Firms power backed by a few Legislatures, which is a sheer violation of 2013 agreements / understanding between the State Govt. and the Department concerned and the committee. What really is the intention of a few Legislatures to cut the NFHRCC endorsed by 12 Nagaland Apex Tribal HoHos to size ? Did they really see the NFHRCC as a hindrance to the 2nd / 3rd phase budget which may possibly go up to the tune of 800-1000 crore rupees?
The proposal of the State Government for a Consultative meeting called on April 30,2025 inviting host of Stakeholders with the first and priority agenda is specially focused on the Construction and updates on the ongoing Foothills road project is a welcoming note, however, it is disheartening to see the NFHRCC missing in the invited list. What is the real agenda to deliberate on the issue of the Foothills Road without the presence of the Committee? The State Government of Nagaland will be answerable if the issue went haywire and in the event the NFHRCC shall not remain a silent spectator for betraying the dream of the Nagaland Peoples’ Road.
Further, the NFHRCC wholeheartedly resolved to continue to welcome any Apex Nagaland Tribal HOHOs those who are yet to affiliate in the Committee on the basis of inclusive Nagaland Peoples’ Road Project. Any changes in the original alignments unequivocally adopted in 2013 except in some inevitable and justifiable circumstances shall not be allowed in whatsoever cases it may be.
The sole mission and vision of the NFHRCC is loud and clear that to provide a dignified connectivity road to the people of Nagaland which had been eluding us even after 6 decades of Statehood, strengthening the hands of the concerned Department on transparency, fair, inclusive and judicious distribution of funds, quality assurance of workmanship and to protect the sanctity of the contractor firms from unwanted harassment of unabated taxation from various quarters.
What had really transpired was the issue of unjustified debate triggered off late on Foothills road project arbitrarily by few vested interested people was unfortunate and self explanatory which is extremely distasteful for a just Society. Let every intellect Nagas of all walks of life, social strata review, analyze and decide on the self induced contentious issue pertaining to the core foothills road project and lend a befitting support to the noble cause, at least for the sake of our younger generations to come or else they will question us even at the door step of our graveyard on the integrity of what we had done today collectively.
Issued by:
Media Cell, NFHRCC
April 24, 2025