The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has expressed strong resentment over remarks made by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio regarding the Foothills Road project during discussions in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. In a press release, the committee objected to Rio’s statement, “We cannot make roads in the sky,” calling the remark unfortunate in view of the ongoing efforts and widespread public support for the Nagaland Foothills Road Project.
According to NFHRCC, a total of 17 work orders were issued in December 2024 under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme to various firms after agreements were signed with the PWD (Roads & Bridges). Of these, two firms—M/s JK Construction and M/s Chabou & Co.—were served show-cause notices on February 4, 2026. Following a site inspection by Roads & Bridges Minister Kaito Aye on February 7, the issue was attributed to a communication gap and the firms were given time until March 31, 2026 to complete the work. The committee also raised concerns over alleged substandard work in the Baghty division and expressed disappointment that both the concerned minister and the MLA who recommended the firms had remained silent on the matter. It urged the government to address delays and quality issues while issuing work orders for the second phase of the project.
Highlighting the project’s significance, NFHRCC said landowners from Khelma to Tizit, covering about 395.9 km, had voluntarily donated land for the two-lane road without compensation, calling it a historic gesture. The committee stressed that priority should be given to completing the ongoing two-lane Foothills Road under the SASCI scheme rather than discussing a proposed four-lane road.
