Nagaland PWD says no approval for Foothill Road phase-II yet, amid NFHRCC pressure, land issues and delays concerns
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DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Public Works department (Roads & Bridges) has clarified that no approval has been granted by the state government for phase-II works of the Foothill Road project, amid demands by the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) for immediate issuance of work orders.
In a detailed response issued on Thursday, the department stated that work orders for the second phase can only be issued after formal approval, which has not been received so far.
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On the claim that INR 400 crore had been administratively approved for phase-II, the department said that it was “not aware of such administrative approval having been accorded by the government”.
The clarification comes even as the NFHRCC had warned of locking the PWD (R&B) Dimapur division office from April 15 if work orders were not issued.
Addressing concerns over land availability and project scope, the department acknowledged that ‘no objection certificates’ (NOCs) have been provided by stakeholders, but added that these cover only 10 to 12 metres, whereas a standard two-lane road would ordinarily require a wider Right of Way (RoW) to accommodate carriageway, shoulders, drainage and utility corridors.
It also clarified that discussions on upgrading the Foothill Road to four lanes are part of efforts to explore long-term funding support from the Centre, given the scale of the project and the state’s limited resources.
In this regard, the department said that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), in a communication dated May 26, 2025, had indicated conditions including provision of 30 metres RoW free of cost, along with forest and environmental clearances, for considering the corridor for future development.
However, following a meeting held on April 7, 2026, and taking into account ground realities and concerns of landowners, the department said that a more “balanced and practical approach” is being adopted.
It stated that a proposal for 15 metres RoW free of cost is currently under consideration, and once consensus is reached, the matter will be taken up with the MoRTH.
Work quality, delays
Responding to allegations of sub-standard work in Baghty division, the department said that cracks observed in a culvert structure were caused by overloaded mining vehicles passing before the required curing period.
It stated that the Foothill Road in this stretch passes through areas along the Doyang River banks where active mining and heavy vehicle movement are common, and that such movement could not be fully restricted as it is linked to local livelihoods.
The department added that the affected portions have since been rectified.
On concerns over deficiencies in the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), the department said that DPRs were prepared based on site conditions at the time of survey and any gaps identified during execution would be addressed through necessary technical measures.
Regarding delay in works by contractors, including JK Construction and Chabou & Co., the department stated that extension of time up to April 30, 2026 was granted only after receiving formal applications from the contractors and reviewing factors such as damage caused by heavy vehicle movement and repair requirements.
It clarified that statements attributed to the PWD (R&B) minister regarding resignation were limited to works under the currently sanctioned INR 148.50 crore under SASCI, and not the entire Foothill Road project.
It also stated that no deductions other than statutory ones are being made in project works.
