The Concept of Foothills Road, Its Initiation, Funding Patte
The Concept of Foothills Road, Its Initiation, Funding Pattern and Progress Over the Years (1974-2025)
Let every intellect Nagas of all walks of life and 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
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.
2.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 neighbouring 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.
3.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 Tizit and 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 recognised 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 deprived 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 extraordinary; 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 authorised the committee
to select contractors and green signal was given to build the road on credit
till the time the Government could mobilise 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 of the
proposed Foothills constructions.
(iii)
Not to politicise 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 the 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 politicised in any
forms.
(vi) On August 14, 2013, prayer and fasting
was organised to invoke the Almighty’s God 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 II
(ONGC), Baghty Division.
Being
an extra ordinary (project) by concept, ABAM (AO BAPTIST AROGO MONDANG) had mobilised
through its congregations an amount of INR 36,56,282/- (in words Rupees thirty
six lakh 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 hand 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 INR 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 continued
unabated by the NFHRCC; the Doyang Bridge at Governor's Camp was paused for a
while during 2014-2018 due to certain reasons including demonetisation 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
gave up the issues of the Foothills Road.
In
2018 Shri N. Rio returned to the state as the Hon'ble CM. He was also
instrumental in rechristening the FHR to Trans Nagaland Expressway, which will
also connect Khelma in Peren District covering a distance of over 395 km. His
Govt. hadalso reached out to MORTH, New
Delhi; in response MORTH had deputed an independent firm, the CE Testing &
Infra Co. Ltd. for a complete and 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 and upgradation 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 with Kuki INPI, Nagaland and
NZPO joining the Foothills Road Mission.
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 programme 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 which the Committee had also met the
Hon’ble Union Minister of DoNER Shri G. Kishan Reddy at New Delhi on 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 INR 148.5 crore in 2023-24 fiscal year.
Then
suddenly comes the controversial issue of Contractor Firms power backed by a
few legislators 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 legislators 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
INR 800-1000 crore?
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 projectis 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 Government of
Nagaland will be answerable if the issue goes 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 be affiliated to 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 of 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 and 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.
