NFHRCC members and others during launch of a 48-meter (100-foot) galvanized double-lane modular steel bridge over Diunaki River in Peren district.
Peren, December 30 (MExN): The Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) inaugurated the first phase of the two-lane Foothills Road construction today with the launch of a 48-meter (100-foot) galvanized double-lane modular steel bridge over the Diunaki River in Peren district.
The event was marked by a prayer ceremony attended by leaders of the Zeliang and Kuki civil society organizations (CSOs), chairpersons of eight neighboring villages, representatives from the district administration, and officials from the Nagaland Public Works Department (NPWD), Peren Division.
Speaking on behalf of the NFHRCC, Assistant General Secretary Chenithung Humtsoe highlighted the historical significance of the Foothills Road project, which was conceived in 2013 with the support of 10 apex Naga tribal organizations. Over time, the Zeliang and Kuki tribal organizations also endorsed the initiative. Spanning 395 kilometers from Tizit to Khelma, the road aims to connect key regions across Nagaland.
The state government has already invested approximately Rs 100 crore in the project, which includes the completion of Nagaland’s longest bridge over the Doyang River in Wokha district and a fair-weather single-lane road connecting Tizit to Niuland. After 12 years of persistent lobbying, the state secured Rs 148.5 crore as a soft loan under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for the first phase of the project.
The NFHRCC expressed gratitude to the state government for including the bridge project in Peren district in this phase. They noted that the project stands out for its extraordinary public support, as landowners have unanimously pledged to provide land without demanding compensation. Additionally, no taxation will be imposed on contractors by any group, and no deductions will be made by the government, except for statutory fees, it said.
The committee called upon contractors who have yet to sign implementation agreements to expedite the process and commence work at their respective sites without delay.
