Kohima, Nagaland, March 1 (HBTV): Funds amounting to INR 148.50 crore have been earmarked for the Foothill Road In the current Financial Year 2023-24.          

Nagaland’s PWD (R&B) minister G Kaito Aye today informed that the earthwork in formation cutting and embankment of 128.00 Km (single lane road configuration) from Dimapur to Tizit (A total of 300.00 Km) was completed during 2014-15. An RCC bridge near the governor’s camp has been completed.    

Highlighting the status of the foothill road in the ongoing Nagaland Legislative Assembly session in Kohima today, Aye said that the government did pursue it under the North Eastern Council. However, the project being a mega project could not be taken up by the council. 

Therefore, the government proposed the project under various schemes/ministries such as the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (first under the Bharat Mala Scheme and later proposed to be taken up as a national highway) and PM Gati Shakti, he said. 

INR 67.00 crore was provided under the Special Plan Assistance during 2013-14 and 2014-15 with which 128 km of road was constructed and an RCC double-lane bridge over the Doyang River spanning 134.8 m was started.  

The state government also provided INR 30 crore in 2021-22 out of which INR 9.50 crore was used to complete the RCC double-lane bridge. It was informed that INR 20.50 crore was utilized for clearing landslides, restoration of subsidence areas, construction of culverts etc., on the Dimapur to Tizit stretch of the Foothill Road.    

In the current Financial Year 2023-24, funds amounting to INR 148.50 crore have been earmarked by the government for this road under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment with which the department will be able to upgrade this road from Dimapur to Tizit to single-lane, all-weather road.           

It will be provided with GSB/stone metal on the entire stretch of 300 km and the required culverts, cross drains, and protection works, the updates stated.