DIMAPUR, AUGUST 4 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) held an emergency meeting on August 4 in Dimapur where a series of resolutions were adopted following what the Committee described as a “thoughtful and serious deliberation” on the current status and direction of the project.
In a press release issued by its media cell, the NFHRCC expressed appreciation to the Government of Nagaland under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio for “taking up the issue of the Foothills Road to a higher scale.” The Committee acknowledged the State Government’s renewed interest and efforts, particularly the upcoming consultative meeting scheduled for August 7, where apex tribal hohos and local MLAs from constituencies along the Foothills alignment have been invited.
However, the NFHRCC also voiced concern over the exclusion of several tribal hohos and legislators from the engagement. It termed this an oversight, particularly given that the Committee—since its formation in 2013—has persistently advocated for what it calls the “Nagaland Economic Survival Road.” The NFHRCC stated that it has always stood for a dignified, inclusive, and people-centric road connectivity model within the State and urged the Government to uphold the spirit of collective representation.
Reaffirming its longstanding position, the Committee categorically stated that no form of illegal taxation or demand should be levied on contractors or government departments by any non-state actors or civil society organisations in relation to the Foothills Road. It recalled a 2013 mutual understanding with the Naga Political Groups (NPGs), built on trust and respect and said this principle should apply equally to current warring factions.
Responding to public speculation, the Committee strongly denied allegations that it had been awarded four construction works under the ongoing Foothills Road project. It clarified that, upon request from the concerned department, it had only recommended firms for specific tasks. These included M/s 3S Infra Ltd (Earth Cutting Works, Tuli Division); M/s P. Mha-Tum & Co. (Bridge, Baghty Division); M/s NCSU c/o M/s Pelle Keizhe (Bridge, Baghty Division); M/s Quinker Enterprise (Bridge, Baghty Division).
The NFHRCC stated that this clarification had already been widely published in leading newspapers and digital media outlets on March 12, 2025.
Of greater concern, the Committee raised allegations of irregular fund disbursement, amounting to approximately Rs 3 crore, to M/s Onkho Construction and Suppliers and M/s Shangphoh Konyak. It noted that the disbursal occurred without the mandatory joint inspection, as per the Memorandum of Agreement signed on March 5, 2025. The MoA clearly specifies that no bill shall be released unless a joint verification is conducted by the NPWD (R&B), the contractor, and the Committee.
The NFHRCC cautioned that such practices, if left unchecked, risk undermining the integrity of the project. “If this trend continues, the concerned Divisional Engineers—under any pretext—will bury this historic connectivity road project into the dust,” the Committee stated. It urged officials to uphold transparency and accountability at all levels, calling the Foothills Road “a people’s project that must be carried forward with sincerity and commitment.”
