Nagaland Minister for PWD (R&B), G Kaito Aye and others during the inspection of Foothills Road project in the Niuland and Baghty sections on February 7.
Kohima, February 8 (MExN): Nagaland Minister for Public Works Department (Roads & Bridges) G Kaito Aye, on February 7, inspected ongoing works on the Foothills Road project in the Niuland and Baghty sections, accompanied by the Chief Engineer and senior departmental officials.
During the inspection, he expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at Niuland section while at Baghty section, the contractors assured to meet work deadline.
According to a press release from the Minister’s office, Aye reviewed progress on the Niuland stretch, where an existing 8.6-km road is being upgraded to two-lane standards up to the granular sub-base (GSB) layer. The works also include construction of a 120-foot double-lane modular steel bridge and blacktopping of a 7-km connectivity road to Rengmapani village. He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work and field supervision in this section, it said.
At Baghty, he assessed three road stretches covering a total length of 38.6 km, along with the construction of one 80-foot and four 50-foot modular steel bridges.
During the inspection, Aye noted that abutment works for all bridges have been completed and that modular bridge components have begun arriving at the site, with erection expected within February.
The Minister acknowledged that the project had faced delays earlier due to prolonged monsoon conditions and coordination-related issues, the release said.
Referring to recent correspondence between the department and the contractor, he said that while communication gaps may have existed in the past, on-site inspection indicated that work had picked up in recent weeks. He advised that such gaps be avoided through regular coordination.
Stating that the department follows standard procedures when project progress is slow, the Minister said contractors are issued formal notices requiring explanations for delays and justification for extensions of time, where applicable. He directed contractors to deploy additional machinery as well as workforce and make full use of the current working season, cautioning that delays would not be accepted without valid reasons.
In response, the contractors formally assured the department that all assigned works would be completed by March 31, 2026, and committed to submitting detailed work plans and any required extension justifications by the same date, the release maintained.
The Minister also instructed technical staff of the Baghty Division, PWD (R&B), to extend necessary cooperation to contractors while ensuring adherence to quality standards. He reiterated that timely completion and proper utilisation of public resources would remain a priority in the execution of road projects.
As per the release, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to people-centric infrastructure, the Minister described the Foothill Road as a transformative corridor that would strengthen connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and bridge regional disparities in Nagaland.
