The Doyang Bridge at Liphanyan, Wokha district, a key link to the long cherished Nagaland Foothills Road as seen on January 28, 2023. (Morung File Photo)
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 26
Nagaland Governor La Ganesan today said that the state government remains committed to the construction of the Foothills Road (Trans-Nagaland Highway), passing through 7 Districts, viz, Peren, Dimapur, Niuland, Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon districts, having a length of about 364 kilometre.
He said that this foothills road will give a significant boost to the economic activities in a 3,000 square kilometre mineral rich region of the state. This project will directly benefit about 10 to 11 lakh populace of the state. He said that the DPR of Phase I and II of this proposed Road project, with an estimated cost of about Rs 9,000 crore, have been submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways for consideration and sanction.
“I am also happy that there is good progress in the ongoing broad gauge railway project from Dhansiri to Zubza,” he said adding that this Project will go a long way in improving transportation and connectivity in the state.
He informed that the Nagaland PWD (R&B) and PWD (NH) had successfully carried out strengthening and upgrading of 1021.63 kilometre of road in 2022-2023, under the various Central and State schemes.
In the current financial year (2023-24), the Department is taking up construction and improvement of more than 1032 kilometre of road across the state.
He informed that the state government was also actively pursuing with the Central Government for building an airport at Ciethu, near Kohima.
We have acquired more than one thousand acres of land at Ciethu, sufficient to make runaway for Airbus 320 landing, Ganesan said adding that the state government have sent proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for building an airport capable of handling ATR-72 class of aircrafts initially, with sufficient provision for future expansion for handling of bigger aircrafts.
The Governor said that the air connectivity by Helicopter Service in the state is expected to see a significant boost with the entry of Pawan Hans, a Government of India enterprise into the state of Nagaland.
“This company will provide Helicopter Service initially covering 6 (six) locations, namely, Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, Tuensang, Zunheboto and Phek, besides providing the maiden Inter-State helicopter connectivity to Jorhat Airport. This will be in addition to the existing Helicopter Services in the state, being operated with the assistance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI,” he said.
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