Representatives of 13 Nagaland-based tribal Hohos have urged the State Government to issue the 2nd phase work order for the Foothills Road project under the SASCI loan scheme on or before March 31, 2026. The signatories cautioned that failure to meet the deadline would compel the tribes to resort to “all democratic means” to press their demand.
In the representation dated February 21, 2026, addressed to the Chief Minister at Kohima, the tribal bodies described the Foothills Road as a “people’s project” and one of the most significant infrastructure initiatives undertaken in the state.
Conceived in 2013, the project spans approximately 395.9 kilometres, connecting Tizit in Mon district to Khelma in Peren district, passing through eight districts and more than 200 villages.
Placing the central demand upfront, the Hohos urged the Government to direct the NPWD, Roads & Bridges department to expedite the issuance of work orders for the remaining divisions under the second phase of the project before the end of March 2026. They stated that the aspiration for a dignified, intra-state road connectivity is a long-standing public demand, and warned that any delay beyond the “gentle deadline” would not be tolerated.
The representation acknowledged that the first phase of the two-lane Foothills Road project under the SASCI loan scheme is nearing completion, and credited the Chief Minister’s patronage for the progress made so far. However, it expressed concern over delays and performance lapses in certain stretches, particularly under the Baghty Division.
Referring to developments within the Roads & Bridges department, the Hohos recalled that the Minister for PWD (R&B), prior to the issuance of work orders in 2024, had repeatedly stated his personal commitment to the success of the Foothills Road project and had publicly asserted that he would resign from the portfolio should the project fail.
According to the representation, despite the expiry of the stipulated 12-month period in December 2025, contractor firms M/S JK Constructions and M/S Chabou & Co. failed to deliver the works on time and did not meet the required standards of quality and progress, particularly in the Baghty Division. Following sustained pressure from various quarters and a detailed examination of the case, the concerned department reportedly issued show-cause notices to the two firms on February 4, 2026.
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The letter further noted that the PWD Minister personally visited the work sites on February 7, 2026, during which communication gaps were cited as a reason for performance lapses. During the visit, March 31, 2026, was reportedly fixed as the final deadline for completion of the works, a decision the tribal bodies described as “appreciable.”
However, the Hohos cautioned that if the Foothills Road works whether in the Baghty Division or in other divisions are not completed with acceptable quality and competence by the stipulated deadline, it would constitute a “huge and unpardonable setback” to the people’s project. In such a scenario, they said, the concerned department, headed by the Minister, would be held accountable to the people of the state.
At the same time, the representation clarified that the Naga public does not intend to single out or blame any particular department or individual. It emphasized that in a democratic system, departments and their representatives are answerable to the people, and accountability is a necessary part of governance.
