The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) on 5 October 2025 urged the Nagaland Public Works Department and contractors to speed up works on the Foothills Road, citing a hard deadline of 18 December 2025, the onset of the dry working season, and the fact that most of the 17 work orders remain incomplete despite significant bill releases to many firms.
Work lags as dry season begins
The Committee said complacency cannot be accepted on this public project, noting that construction windows are now favourable and progress must match the timeline across multiple divisions that include road upgrades, bridge builds, and maintenance packages covering key sections such as the 20.40 km Tizit to Suffary stretch and 8.6 km improvement works under the Dimapur Division.
Also Read: NSF rejects RPP claims of Non-Naga Indigenous Tribes in Nagaland
Official figures shared by PWD (R&B) as of 8 September 2025 show many contractors have received sizeable payments, while two firms have recorded no disbursement to date.
Project payments and contract details
Records indicate 17 work orders with a combined tender value of more than Rs 133 crore and varied payment releases across packages and firms, with examples ranging from full maintenance allocation for Dikhu Bridge to Tuli to nil releases for two bridge contracts.
The payment snapshot below reflects the Committee’s focus on accountability and on-time delivery during the limited construction window.
| Sl. | Name of Work | Length/Span | Tender Amount (Rs) | Contractor | Bill Released (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Upgradation of Foothills Road from Tizit to Suffary | 20.40 km | 24,51,47,061 | M/S Onkho Construction & Suppliers | 29,03,321 |
| 2 | RCC Bridge over Dehak River | 11.80 m | 1,52,70,823 | M/S Shangpoh Konyak | NIL |
| 3 | Maintenance Naganimora-Suffary Bridge | 26.75 km | 3,63,70,823 | M/S Yanna Enterprise | 86,50,389 |
| 4 | Maintenance Dikhu Bridge-Tuli | 16.00 km | 1,46,31,280 | M/S A. Bongshi Phom & Sons | 1,46,31,280 |
| 5 | Tuli-Naganimora Road | 29.50 km | 14,67,63,615 | 3 S Infra | 7,50,00,000 |
| 6 | Governor’s Camp to Shanthatchu River | 15.00 km | 16,97,72,208 | J K Construction | 2,83,73,381.90 |
| 7 | Shanthatchu River to Pangtong VR Jn. | 15.00 km | 17,49,18,563 | J K Construction | 2,28,28,561.52 |
| 8 | Pangtong to Merapani | 8.60 km | 11,14,27,591 | M/S Chabou & Co | 1,54,80,349.84 |
| 9 | Bridge over Jakvantchu River | 15.24 m | 2,04,01,830 | M/S Ren-Kik ENJ & Co | 88,32,985.00 |
| 10 | Bridge over Shanthatchu River | 24.28 m | 2,17,53,639 | M/S N. Chiso Swu & Sons | 50,88,599.00 |
| 11 | Bridge over Jungtchu River | 15.24 m | 2,04,01,830 | M/S Quinker Enterprise | 79,86,731.00 |
| 12 | Bridge over Sungkhatchu River | 15.24 m | 2,04,01,830 | M/S P. Mha-Tum & Co | 81,12,592.00 |
| 13 | Bridge over Tsumang River | 15.24 m | 2,04,01,830 | M/S Pele Khezie (NCSU) | NIL |
| 14 | Rengmapani-Foothills Road | 7.00 km | 5,82,13,437 | M/S C.T. Albert Angami & Co | 3,33,81,155 |
| 15 | Upgradation under Dimapur Division | 8.60 km | 15,93,71,534 | M/S N. Chiso Swu & Sons | 9,16,98,815 |
| 16 | Bridge over River Dadi | 36.58 m | 4,57,70,829 | M/S N. Chiso Swu & Sons | 2,45,02,781 |
| 17 | Bridge over Duinaki River | 30.48 m | 2,42,00,479 | M/S Medodi Construction & Co | 65,73,000 |
Funding requests and phase II planning
NFHRCC asked the State Government to release funds strictly in proportion to verified work progress, stating that payments should follow completion percentages without bias across divisions and contractors. The Committee also pressed for early projection of Phase II under the SASCI loan DPR for the Merapani or Changpang sector under Baghty Division, the Jangpetkong area under Mangkolemba Division, and the full stretch under Peren Division, to enable immediate mobilisation after the current phase ends.
Right of way clearances and connectivity links
On 21 August 2025, NFHRCC met the Secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in New Delhi on the 30 metre, 100 feet, Right of Way No Objection Certificate for the project, followed by meetings with the Chief Secretary and the Deputy Chief Minister handling Planning and Transformation and National Highways to improve coordination.
The Committee also proposed linking the Nagaland Express Highway with the Arunachal Frontier Highway in the east and connecting Khelma to National Highway 137 touching Assam’s Dima Hasao and Manipur’s Tamenglong, to strengthen regional corridors.
Also Read: Marc Marquez fractures collarbone in violent Indonesian GP crash
Access to leadership and ongoing concerns
The Committee said repeated requests for a meeting with the Chief Minister have not materialised due to other priority engagements, although it hopes for an early appointment to sort pending issues and coordination gaps. NFHRCC noted it had issued a similar call to contractors in April 2025, and reiterated that finishing the Foothills Road is crucial for connectivity and economic activity in the foothill belt across Nagaland.
