Morung File Photo
Morung Express News
Kohima | August 5
The newest entrant to the state political arena, the Rising Peoples’ Party (RPP) has announced a campaign to crowd-source funds to complete the Nagaland Foothills road project. A 50 year-old dream to directly link Mon with Peren via Dimapur, the road started to take shape in December 2013 after the Nagaland state government yielded to mounting pressure from tribal hohos to build the road. Almost eight years since, the dream road remains incomplete and almost abandoned notwithstanding the state government rechristening it the Trans Nagaland Expressway.
Making the announcement at a press conference in Kohima on August 5, RPP president Joel Naga said that the decision was made after interacting with “likeminded people” keeping in mind the unresolved inter-state border dispute with Assam, which frequently affects commuters from Nagaland in Assam.
He said, “The Foothills road is important and crucial because this will ensure that we do not pass through the Assam roads.”
While accusing the state government of incompetence, he said that the people of Nagaland should come together as one to complete the road. According to the RPP president, the project would have been completed within a short period of time if only the legislators had put their heads together.
When asked if there are any expectations on the government or legislators, Joel said that it is left to the individuals to decide, while stating that it would be a concerted effort.
While detailed information on the crowd-funding campaign was not divulged, it was informed that the campaign would start either by this month or the first week of September.
According to sources in the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee, around Rs 70 crore has been spent in the project so far, including the Doyang Bridge. 90 percent of earth-cutting is said to be completed although it is not motorable, while around 75 percent of the work in the Doyang Bridge have also been completed. Out of the total amount, around 20 crore was spend on the construction of the Doyang Bridge.
