WOKHA, MARCH 7 (MExN): Minister for Roads and Bridges, Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, on Thursday stated that once the Nagaland Foothill Road project is completed, bandhs and harassments will be a thing of the past.
A press note informed that the Minister stated this while inspecting the ongoing road formation cutting at Longto, in Mokokchung district and Yanmhon area, under Bhandari subdivision in Wokha district.
Interacting with the locals of Yanmhon area under Bhandari sub-division, the Minister acknowledged the “untold pain and harassment” of the people living in the border areas of the state. He assured that the government was very concerned of their situation and “hence the proposed Foothill Road has been initiated despite fund paucity.”
It has been only three months since work started and it is progressing very well, he stated, while appealing for continued support to the department.
“If there is any issue relating to the quality of work, please come and report it to the department officials to resolve the issue instead of taking it to the press or disrupting work progress,” he implored.
The Minister, while highlighting the objective of the ongoing road construction, also pointed out that it has been rightly termed as the “people’s road,” as it was taken up with a view to do away with the “harassment meted out to Nagas while travelling in neighbouring states.”
Also appreciating the Foothill Road Committee for their support and assistance to the department, the Minister stated that the committee’s help has been very encouraging.
Earlier, interacting with the Minister, local leaders of Yamhon area stated that they have been at the receiving end of untold sufferings. At Liphi village, the press note cited locals as saying, “we have only heard and read in the papers but have not seen any minister for the last one decade come to visit us like this.”
Besides the Foothill Road, the Minister also inspected the ongoing NLCPR and PMGSY road constructions in Bhandari area. The note informed that the Foothill Road will cover Tizit in Mon district till Niuland under Dimapur district in the first phase; while the second phase will cover Chumukedima till Khelma in Peren district. The total length of the road has been estimated to be around 300 kms. Altogether, road formation cutting of over 3 kms in Mokokchung district and 22 kms in Wokha district has been completed till date.
