SUNDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2025
Foothills Road on slow track, NFHRCC sounds alarm
NFHRCC urges Nagaland PWD and contractors to speed up Foothills Road work, citing delays and funding issues.
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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has once again urged the state’s Public Works Department (Roads and Bridges) to impress upon the contractors engaged in 17 Foothills Road projects to speed up construction and ensure their completion within the stipulated 12-month period ending December 18, 2025.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the committee reminded that a similar appeal was made to the contractors/firms in April.
It also called upon the government to release funds commensurate with the progress of work, “without bias or prejudice,” and to ensure strict adherence to timelines.
According to records communicated officially by the PWD (R&B), the following contractor firms have received bill payments as of September 8, 2025:
Sl. No. | Name of Work | Length of road/Bridge span | Tender Amount (INR) | Contractor | Bill Released (INR) |
1 | Upgradation of Foothills Road, Tizit–Suffry | 20.40 km | 24.51 cr | M/S Onkho Construction & Suppliers | 0.29 cr |
2 | RCC Bridge over Dehak River, Tizit–Suffry | 11.80 m | 1.52 cr | M/S Shangpoh Konyak | Nil |
3 | Maintenance, Naganimora–Suffry Bridge | 26.75 km | 3.63 cr | M/S Yanna Enterprise | 0.86 cr |
4 | Maintenance, Naganimora (Dikhu)–Tuli | 16.00 km | 1.46 cr | M/S A. Bongshi Phom & Sons | 1.46 cr |
5 | Construction & Maintenance, Tuli–Naganimora | 29.50 km | 14.67 cr | 3 S Infra | 7.50 cr |
6 | Upgradation, Governor’s Camp–Shanthatchu | 15.00 km | 16.97 cr | J K Construction | 2.83 cr |
7 | Upgradation, Shanthatchu–Pangtong Junction | 15.00 km | 17.49 cr | J K Construction | 2.28 cr |
8 | Upgradation, Pangtong–Merapani | 8.60 km | 11.14 cr | M/S Chabou & Co | 1.54 cr |
9 | Bridge over Jakvantchu River | 15.24 m | 2.04 cr | M/S Ren-Kik ENJ & Co | 0.88 cr |
10 | Bridge over Shanthatchu River | 24.28 m | 2.17 cr | M/S N. Chiso Swu & Sons | 0.50 cr |
11 | Bridge over Jungtchu River | 15.24 m | 2.04 cr | M/S Quinker Enterprise | 0.79 cr |
12 | Bridge over Sungkhatchu River | 15.24 m | 2.04 cr | M/S P Mha-Tum & Co | 0.81 cr |
13 | Bridge over Tsumang River | 15.24 m | 2.04 cr | M/S Pele Khezie (NCSU) | Nil |
14 | Rengmapani–Foothills Road via Henito, Zuheshe | 7.00 km | 5.82 cr | M/S CT Albert Angami & Co | 3.33 cr |
15 | Foothills Road Improvement (Dimapur Division) | 8.60 km | 15.93 cr | M/S N. Chiso Swu & Sons | 9.16 cr |
16 | Bridge over River Dadi, Niuland–Hovekhu | 36.58 m | 4.57 cr | M/S N Chiso Swu & Sons | 2.45 cr |
17 | Bridge over Duinaki River, Gopibung–Athibung | 30.48 m | 2.42 cr | M/S Medodi Construction & Co | 0.65 cr |
The committee cautioned that complacency cannot be taken for granted in what it termed a people’s project. With the dry working season already set in, it urged both the department and contractors to accelerate progress and ensure that all works are completed on schedule.
The NFHRCC also called upon the department to begin preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the second phase of the SASCI loan grant, particularly for the Merapani/Changpang sector under Baghty division, Jangpetkong area under Mangkolemba division, and the entire stretch of Peren division.
Also read: Joint team inspects Foothills Road construction in Mon’s Naganimora
Foothills Road: NFHRCC seeks transparency
On the issue of 30-metre Right of Way (ROW) clearance mandated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the NFHRCC stated that its officials had met the MoRTH secretary in New Delhi on August 21, and subsequently held discussions with the chief secretary and the deputy chief minister in charge of Planning and National Highways for better coordination and implementation.
It further appealed to the state government to pursue with the Centre the linkage of the proposed Nagaland Express Highway (Foothills Road) with the Arunachal Frontier Highway in the east, and with National Highway-137 connecting Dima Hasao district of Assam and Tamenglong in Manipur.
Lamenting that several requests for an appointment with the chief minister to discuss the Foothills Road project have gone unanswered, the NFHRCC expressed hope for an early meeting to clarify issues and expedite the long-pending project.
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