Nagaland government proposes 15-metre Right of Way for Foothill Road upgrade to National Highway standards after stakeholders reject 30-metre condition.
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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland government has proposed a 15-metre Right of Way (RoW) to be provided free of cost for upgrading the Trans-Nagaland Highway (Foothills Road) to National Highway (NH) standards, following a high-level meeting convened on Tuesday.
The proposal emerged after stakeholders rejected the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ condition requiring a 30-metre RoW free of cost for declaring the road as a National Highway.
The development comes amid recent tensions surrounding the Foothill Road project, with the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) and Dimapur-based tribal hohos boycotting the meeting and warning of agitation if pending work orders for the second phase are not issued.
According to a press release, the meeting, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang at the Capital Convention Centre, deliberated on modalities for upgrading the Foothills Road to NH standards and the implications of adopting the National Highways Act, 1956.
The house was informed that the Ministry has expressed willingness to undertake construction and maintenance of the road, considering its economic and strategic importance, provided the required land is made available.
Also read: Foothills Road row: Tribal bodies boycott meeting, NFHRCC warns of lockdown move
However, the majority view of the house was that providing a 30-metre RoW free of cost is not feasible under the present circumstances. It was pointed out that only 12 metres is currently being provided free of cost for the ongoing intermediate lane Foothill Road.
As a way forward, Zeliang proposed that a 15-metre RoW be provided and directed that the matter be finalised within 15 days through consultations with affected villages under their respective District Planning and Development Boards (DPDBs). He said that once written consent is received from all affected districts, the proposal would be taken up with the Ministry.
The meeting also reached a broad consensus against adopting the National Highways Act, 1956 if it infringes upon the provisions of Article 371(A) of the Constitution. While acknowledging that the Act offers greater benefits than the existing State legislation, concerns were raised over provisions relating to land acquisition and compensation.
It was noted that earlier State policies had created constraints in land compensation for NH projects between 2018 and 2023, and although the State Cabinet in November 2023 resolved to permit compensation, the matter remains unresolved with the Centre due to issues surrounding the applicability of the Act in the context of Article 371 (A).
During the meeting, elected representatives and tribal bodies discussed land contribution and called on citizens to cooperate in enabling the State to develop durable road infrastructure.
The Deputy Chief Minister clarified that the meeting was not to review the ongoing Foothills Road project but to explore modalities for its upgradation under central norms. He also underscored the importance of initiating immediate grassroots-level consultations and urged tribal bodies to engage with all stakeholders, including village councils, on the issue of land contribution.
Responding to queries on NH-202, he said delays in sanction are linked to the pending decision on adoption of the NH Act, along with technical issues in appointing a DPR consultant, but expressed hope that the matter would be resolved soon.
Minister Kaito emphasised that for the ongoing Foothills Road works, tribal bodies must continue to extend full cooperation to ensure timely completion without hindrance. He also underscored that where competent technical authorities are in place, other public organisations should avoid overstepping their mandate or interfering in departmental functions.
The meeting was attended by representatives of 16 tribal bodies, elected members from affected districts, Deputy Commissioners and officials of the Nagaland Public Works Department.