Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton. (File Photo)
Taking up issue with GoI at every level, says Dy CM
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 16
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton informed members of the 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) about the status of Foothill road in the state.
Patton, who is also Minister in-charge of Roads and Bridges, noted the importance of having a road along the foothills of Nagaland.
“Such a road, apart from convenience of travel, also has the potential to bring about changes in the socio-economic front,” Patton informed the House.
He said the long felt need of the state to construct a road along the foothill areas of the state without passing through Assam, is still yet to be made operational with the main reason being lack of the state’s own resources to address this need.
“However the State Government has and is committed to see that this is made into reality and have therefore been taking up this issue with the Government of India in every level,” he said.
Patton said that in view of the fact that connectivity by roads can play a significant role in changing the socio-economic conditions of living of the people of the region, the State Government during 2013, embarked on a plan to provide the Foothill connectivity along the foothill areas.
Towards this perspective, a proposal for covering the 'State with a major road across the foothill areas traversing the existing roads to the best possible extent and connecting obligatory habitations of the state to provide single lane Foothill connectivity was proposed- "Construction/ Improvement of road along Tizit-Naginmora- Tuli-Yajang C- Longtho-MI Project-Sumito- New & Old Wozhu- Changpang-Yimpang-Bhandari-Governor's Camp-Ralan (0)- Niuland-Dimapur', covering a total distance of 342.00 Km. amounting Rs 235 Crore.
The proposal under the Special Plan Assistance (SPA) was approved by the Government of India during 2013-14 and an amount of Rs 235 Crore was sanctioned.
Accordingly, works were taken up from 2013-14 onwards as per the budget allocation only and not as per the approved amount. Approved Budget Provision: (a) 2013-14: Rs 4000 Lakh (b) 2014-15: Rs 2700 Lakh.
Regrettably, Patton noted, the SPA funding discontinued from 2015-16 onwards and thus, all items of work projected in the proposal could not be taken up.
Works taken up as per the budget provisions: (a). 129.60 Km length of Road Formation Cutting/Embankment of the Unconnected Portion was taken up and completed. (b). Construction of 2- Lane RCC Bridge (134.80 M Span) over Doyang River near Governor's Camp is under progress.
Patton said that the work Order for the Bridge was issued during March 2014 and works started. However, due to various reasons including the discontinuation of the SPA funding, the Contractor temporarily suspended the work during 2017-18.
The Contractor resumed the work during October 2018 and the works are in progress.
The overall progress of works is 70.66 %. Although, there is no clear indication of the funding source, the Contractor is putting in all efforts to complete the bridge works.
Works that could not be taken up included pavement works i/c cross drains, bridges and protection works in the newly cut portions and improvement of existing road.
Present Status
Patton said that the road is now affected by landslides, subsidence etc. and thus, not pliable. In view of the fund constraints, no new works have been taken up since 2015-16. However, in order to make the road pliable, the Department has submitted a proposal estimate for clearance of landslides, construction of side drains, cross drains i/c minor bridges and metalling works including the balance amount required for the completion of the Doyang bridge amounting to Rs. 143.67 Crore which is under examination.
State Government’s Initiatives
He said that the state government in all earnestness is continuously pursuing with the Central Government for release of the balance funds under the SPA so that the incomplete works are completed.
He said during 2014-15, the State Government submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MORTH) for declaration of Foothill road as National Highway. However, the MORTH suggested changing the nomenclature to Nagaland Highway (Two Lane) to be taken up in a phased manner.
The details are as follows - Phase I: Tuli to Dimapur By Pass- 180,65 Km; Phase II :Tizit to Tuli- 68.00 Km and Phase III: Jalukie- Khelma- 71.60 Km (Dimapur to Jalukie is connected by National Highway 129 A) for a total of 320.25 Km.
The feasibility Report of Phase I and II and DPR amounting to Rs.4463.56 Crore have been submitted to the MoRTH for approval. The feasibility report and alignment has been approved during December 2018.
The State is awaiting the approval for declaration of the Trans Nagaland Highway as a National Highway, Patton informed.
The issue of declaring the stretch of road as National Highway has also been taken up with the Prime Minister of India on 3rd September, 2020 by the Chief Minister, Nagaland.
With regard to Phase III works, Patton said the feasibility study for Jalukie to Athibung is completed and from Athibung to Khelma is yet to be finalized.
“However, it was made to understand that the policy for further declaration of New National Highways is yet to be finalized. Till finalization of such policy, the mentioned stretch cannot be declared as National Highway,” Patton said.
Meanwhile, this proposal was again taken up with MoRTH by Chief Minister, Nagaland on 19th January, 2021 for taking up the project under Bharatmala Pariyojna project on priority.
