Minister for Horticulture and Women Resource Development Salhoutuonuo Kruse on Saturday conducted a touring inspection of the PMGSY road on May 23 along with the NPF 8th Western Angami Assembly Constituency party workers.

The inspection tour covered several areas under the 8 Western Angami region, including Khonoma, Mezoma, Kiruphema ( Bawe / Basa ) , Sechüma and Peducha

During the tour, the Minister along with other officials inspected the newly completed PMGSY road project and reviewed the connectivity. The visit was also attended by local leaders, stakeholders, and supporters from various villages under the constituency.

Kruse expressed happiness over the completion of the PMGSY road in the 8 Western Angami Assembly Constituency, stating that the long-awaited rural connectivity project has finally become a reality for the people of the region.

Speaking during the inspection of the newly completed road, the Minister said that it was a joyful moment for both her and the people of her constituency as the villagers would now be able to travel more easily and carry out business activities in a shorter time.

She said that after many years, the villages under the constituency had finally received the PMGSY road connectivity. According to her, the contractor accompanying the inspection team assured that the road had been constructed with the best quality standards. Although she mentioned that she was not a technical expert in road construction, she expressed satisfaction with the quality and overall development work carried out.

Kruse stated that the gathering today was held to mark the completion of the PMGSY road project in the 8 Western Angami region. She acknowledged that the work had been completed within a short period and thanked God for the successful completion of the project.

Highlighting the background of the scheme, she noted that the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), aimed at improving rural village connectivity, was launched in 2000 during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. She pointed out that this marks the 26th year since the launch of the scheme and mentioned that several elders from the area had said that such a road had not been constructed in the region for nearly 25 years.

The Minister said that the PMGSY road reached Khonoma for the first time and added that villagers were extremely happy with the development. She further described the road as a major connectivity route for the entire 8 Western Angami area, linking several important roads in the region.

Kruse also thanked the present government, the Chief Minister of Nagaland Dr Rio , and the contractor firm VK and Sons for successfully completing the project. She appreciated the contractor for carrying out the work sincerely without focusing solely on profit.

Urban Sector spokesperson, Zaseta Theyo stated that several developmental initiatives were undertaken after Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse came to power in 2023.

According to Theyo, one of the major achievements was the upgradation of Government Middle School in Midland, which had remained without upgradation for 57 years. He said representations were made for many years seeking its conversion into a high school, and during 2023–2024, the school was finally upgraded to Government High School. He further added that proposals for infrastructure development have also been submitted.

The Urban spokesperson also mentioned that Government Middle School Town in Kohima, one of the oldest schools in Daklane area with over 60 years of history, had similarly not received any upgradation for decades. However, through the intervention of the Minister, the school has now been upgraded to a Government High School.

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Theyo said that several colonies also have witnessed developmental progress under the Minister’s leadership over the past three years. He claimed that the 8 western area had faced neglect for nearly two decades but added that significant improvements have now begun to take shape.

He further stated that an iconic project for 2025–2026 is also in the pipeline, which has been promised by the Minister.

According to him, the public is satisfied with the ongoing development activities and remains hopeful that Salhoutuonuo Kruse will continue to represent the constituency in 2028.

Rural Sector spokesperson, Nichasatou Angami from Kiruphema village said that the gathering marked the celebration of the completion of the much-needed PMGSY road project in Western Angami, describing it as an important milestone for the region.

He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio for facilitating the road project and appreciated Minister Salhoutuonuo Kruse for initiating developmental works in the 8 Western Angami region. He also thanked contractor M/S Vilelie Khamo and Sons, the concerned department, stakeholders, and village chairmen for their collective efforts in successfully completing the PMGSY road project.

According to Angami, the 8 Western Angami region had long remained ignored and neglected in terms of development, but visible changes and progress are now being witnessed under the leadership of Minister Kruse. He stated that the programme was directly or indirectly linked to the welfare of local people and claimed that for nearly 30 years, the constituency had not witnessed any major development projects.

He said that despite being a woman leader, Minister Kruse had brought rapid developmental progress to the constituency, adding that residents can now witness significant changes in infrastructure and public works.

Angami described the PMGSY road as the “lifeline route” of the 8 Western Angami region, noting that it connects almost all villages and serves as a major connectivity route for the area. He recalled that around 20 years ago, the road had been in a deplorable condition and stated that the region had lagged behind other constituencies in terms of development.

He further highlighted several infrastructure projects being undertaken under the Minister’s initiative, including the Peducha to New Secretariat Road, which he said is widely used by the public and nearing completion, the road from Zubza Bridge Point on NH-29 to Khonoma, and the Jotsoma bypass road, reportedly being implemented with the support of the Chief Minister and the Minister.

The spokesperson also said that reservoir tanks and marketing sheds had been constructed in several villages, while horticulture and agriculture link roads are being expanded across many parts of the constituency. He appreciated the Minister for pushing development activities and added that several more projects are under consideration and awaiting approval.

Angami stated that the people of 8 Western Angami continue to expect progress, development, and opportunities for the constituency and claimed that in the past three years, Minister Kruse had brought notable developmental activities to an area that had seen little major progress over the previous three decades. He described her as a “champion of development” and a symbol of progress for the constituency.

The project involves the construction of a 28.12-kilometre single-lane rural road connecting Khonoma to Peducha via Mezoma, Sechuma, and Kiruphema. The road covers five villages — Khonoma, Mezoma, Sechuma, Kiruphema, and Peducha — and is expected to greatly benefit residents across the 8 Western Angami region.

According to project details, the construction work officially commenced on October 12, 2024, and was completed in March 2026 as scheduled. The total sanctioned project cost stood at ₹22.53 crore under PMGSY funding.

The project was executed by M/s Vilelie Khamo & Sons under the supervision and quality monitoring of the PWD (Roads & Bridges) Department. The road was constructed according to the approved Detailed Project Report (DPR) and prescribed specifications.

One of the key technical challenges faced during the construction process involved the adoption of a new construction method based on Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) using Roadcem technology for soil stabilisation. The process required the use of several heavy machineries, many of which were reportedly not easily available in the market.

Despite the challenges, the road project has now been fully completed, with authorities confirming 100 percent physical progress.

The newly completed 3.75-metre-wide road is expected to provide multiple benefits to the public, including improved transportation for farming and agricultural activities, reduced travel time, better access to towns and cities, promotion of tourism, and enhanced connectivity among villages in the region.

Officials further informed that maintenance responsibility for the road will remain in place for five years following the completion of the project.