Voices demanding the completion of the long-pending Nagaland Foothills Road, stretching approximately 395 km from Khelma in Peren District to Tizit in Mon District, are growing louder. The Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) and Western Rengma Hoho (WRH) have issued separate appeals urging the state government to expedite the 2-lane road project, citing traveler hardships, economic development, and improved connectivity across the state.
The NCD highlighted the ongoing inconvenience faced by travelers, especially during Assam bandhs and border skirmishes, and emphasized that the road has been a long-cherished dream of Nagas since 1974. The council also acknowledged the generous contribution of landowners in 2013, who provided a 40-ft lane through their respective Tribal Hohos without any compensation, facilitating the project’s alignment survey.
“This foothill road will not only be a lifeline for the districts being covered but all the important arterial roads from all districts of Nagaland will converge,” the council said and appealed to the Govt of Nagaland to expedite the extraordinary 2-lane road project as per the people’s expectation.
The council appealed for mutual cooperation to resolve delays before the onset of the monsoon, warning that lag in any division could hamper the second phase of the 2-lane project.
NCD acknowledges and appreciates the joint survey of the alignment done along with the NPWD (Road and Bridge) and the NFRCC in 2013, in the desire of having a connecting road from Tizit to Khelma for which a 40 ft. width lane was given by the generous land owners without any land compensation through their respective Tribal Hohos in 2013.
Meanwhile, the WRH also voiced concern over the slow pace of construction. While appreciating the government’s initiative to upgrade the Foothills Road into a National Highway, the organization stressed that such upgradation may take considerable time, making it imperative to prioritize the timely completion of the ongoing 2-lane project, which has already been in progress for over a decade.
The WRH fully endorsed the memorandum submitted on February 21, 2026, by Dimapur-based Tribal Hohos, urging the government to issue the Second Phase work order on or before March 31, 2026. The organization emphasized that completing the road would bring widespread benefits, directly and indirectly, to all sections of society, enhancing connectivity, improving access, and promoting economic activity across the state.
Both NCD and WRH acknowledged the broader significance of the project, noting that timely completion would unlock economic potential, improve transportation for goods and people, and provide safer travel for all Nagas, especially those from districts dependent on the Foothills Road for essential connectivity.
With multiple tribal organizations now joining the call for action, the demand for the Foothills Road is gaining momentum, signaling growing public pressure on the government to deliver on this long-standing infrastructure project.