The Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) has strongly resented a remark made by Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on the floor of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly concerning the Foothills Road project, stating that the comment had created confusion and concern among the Naga public and stakeholders associated with the initiative.

In a detailed statement issued by its media cell, the committee took exception to the Chief Minister’s reported remark that “we cannot make roads in the sky,” asserting that the statement did not reflect the ground realities and the aspirations of the people who have been supporting the project for more than a decade.

The NFHRCC said the crux of the present issue lies in the implementation of the Foothills Road project under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme. According to the committee, a total of 17 work orders were issued to different firms in December 2024 after formal contract agreements were signed with the NPWD (Roads & Bridges) department.

Out of the 17 firms, two contractors — M/S JK Construction and M/S Chabou & Co — were reportedly served show cause notices on February 4, 2026. Subsequently, Nagaland Minister for Public Works Kaito Aye visited the project sites on February 7 to inspect the works undertaken by the two firms. The committee stated that during the inspection the minister reportedly attributed the issue to a communication gap and extended the deadline for the firms to rectify the works until March 31, 2026.

However, the NFHRCC said that concerns later emerged among the public that the two firms were allegedly executing substandard works in the Baghty Division. The committee expressed disappointment that the concerned minister had remained silent on the matter and also questioned the role of the legislator whose recommendation reportedly facilitated the allotment of the contract works to the firms.

In this regard, the committee stated that the Foothills Road project has been a cherished initiative for the people of Nagaland for decades and therefore demanded transparency, accountability and timely action from the concerned authorities. It also recalled that the minister had earlier assured the public that the Foothills Road project would be completed by 2027 under the SASCI scheme.

The NFHRCC further urged the state government and the concerned department to immediately issue work orders for the second phase of the two-lane Foothills Road construction under the SASCI scheme, as had been earlier assured by the government. It said the first phase of the construction is nearing completion and delaying the second phase could affect the momentum of the project.

Highlighting the magnitude of public support behind the project, the committee pointed out that landowners along the proposed route had voluntarily donated land for the construction of the road without seeking any compensation. The Foothills Road stretches from Khelma in Peren district to Tizit in Mon district, covering approximately 395.9 kilometres and passing through several districts and more than 200 villages.

According to the NFHRCC, the willingness of landowners to part with their land free of cost is a historic gesture rarely seen in large infrastructure projects. The committee stated that if compensation had been demanded for the land, the cost would have amounted to several thousand crores of rupees. It added that the necessary no-objection certificates (NOCs) from landowners and tribal apex bodies had already been submitted to the Chief Minister in 2018.

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Clarifying the ongoing debate surrounding the project, the NFHRCC said the present issue pertains specifically to the continuation of the two-lane Foothills Road construction under the SASCI scheme and should not be confused with proposals to upgrade the road into a four-lane national highway under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways framework. The committee urged the government not to attribute delays to landowners, reiterating that the public had fully cooperated with the authorities in facilitating the project.

Tracing the historical background of the project, the NFHRCC noted that the idea of constructing a foothills road in Nagaland dates back several decades. The first attempt was reportedly made in 1974–75 during the tenure of former chief minister Vizol Angami when the proposal was put forward by then cabinet minister Mhondamo Kithan. However, the mission could not materialize.

A second attempt was made in 1993 when Neiphiu Rio was serving as minister in charge of the Public Works Department under the chief ministership of S. C. Jamir. That effort too was reportedly abandoned due to various challenges.

The present initiative, according to the NFHRCC, was revived in 2013 by civil society organisations under the leadership of the committee and with the backing of tribal apex bodies. The Foothills Road concept was subsequently endorsed by the state government, and joint surveys and alignment works were undertaken with the cooperation of the Public Works Department.

The committee stated that the project has often been described as an “extraordinary initiative” because of the collective efforts of tribal organisations, voluntary land donations by landowners, tax exemptions granted by non-state actors and the support extended by various civil society groups.

It also recalled that the Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang had mobilized financial contributions from its congregations and donated over Rs 36 lakh to support the project. The amount was later handed over to the Chief Minister in 2019 through the NFHRCC.

The committee further stated that it had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019 through the Governor of Nagaland seeking the upgradation of the Foothills Road into a national highway under the proposed Trans-Nagaland Expressway.

Over the years, the committee said it had consistently engaged with the state government, the Centre and various stakeholders to keep the project alive despite several challenges, including funding constraints and policy changes such as the abolition of the Planning Commission and the Special Plan Assistance funding system.

The NFHRCC reiterated that the sole vision of the committee is to provide a dignified and reliable road connectivity within Nagaland, particularly for people living in the foothill regions and border areas who have long faced difficulties due to poor infrastructure and lack of access to markets and services.

The committee also emphasized the need to maintain transparency in the allocation of contracts, ensure quality workmanship and protect contractor firms from undue harassment and multiple taxation by various quarters.

Appealing to the public, intellectuals and civil society organisations, the NFHRCC called for an objective review of the issues surrounding the Foothills Road project and urged all sections of society to extend support to what it described as a historic people’s initiative aimed at securing better connectivity and development for future generations.