Nagaland MP Supongmeren Jamir urges Centre in Parliament to approve Foothills Road project aimed at boosting connectivity and development.
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DIMAPUR — Seeking swifter approval for one of Nagaland’s most ambitious road projects, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) S Supongmeren Jamir has urged the government of India to prioritise the proposed Foothills Road.
A press release on Saturday informed that the MP has raised the issue under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha, describing the project as a critical lifeline for connectivity and development in the state.
While sharing that the proposed highway will stretch about 395 km along the foothills bordering Assam, enabling citizens to travel between districts within Nagaland without repeatedly crossing interstate boundaries, the Congress MP called on the government of India to expedite approval of the proposed Foothills Road (Trans–Nagaland Highway).
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Once completed, the road is expected to directly connect 103 towns and villages, benefiting more than 11 lakh people across the state, he told the Lower House. The project will also link interior districts with national highways and state roads, potentially boosting economic activity, trade and development.
The alignment of the road will pass through several districts including Peren, Chümoukedima, Dimapur, Niuland, Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon, areas that are rich in natural and mineral resources but have long faced connectivity challenges.
Supongemeren also informed the House that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for Phase I (Packages I–VI) covering 180.656 km from Dimapur to Tuli have already been submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for consideration and approval as a National Highway.
The estimated cost of the Phase I project is INR 3,284.06 crore, while the entire Foothills Road project is expected to cost around INR 9,000 crore, it stated.
Calling the Foothills Road a long-cherished aspiration of the people of Nagaland, the MP urged the Centre to give due consideration and expedite approval of the project in the interest of the state’s development and regional connectivity.