The Nagaland government has proposed a 15-metre Right of Way (RoW) to be provided free of cost for upgrading the Trans-Nagaland Highway (Foothills Road) to National Highway (NH) standards after stakeholders rejected the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways condition requiring a 30-metre RoW. The proposal emerged from a high level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister TR Zeliang at the Capital Convention Centre in Kohima. The Ministry signalled willingness to undertake construction and maintenance of the highway provided the required land is made available. The meeting heard that the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee and several Dimapur based tribal hohos boycotted proceedings and warned of agitation if pending work orders for the second phase are not issued. Members of the house indicated that providing a 30-metre RoW free of cost was not feasible under current circumstances and noted that only 12 metres is presently provided free for the ongoing intermediate lane works. Stakeholders urged immediate consultations to find a practicable road to consensus. Deputy Chief Minister Zeliang proposed that a 15-metre RoW be provided and directed that the matter be finalised within 15 days through consultations with affected villages under their respective District Planning and Development Boards. He said that once written consent is received from all affected districts the proposal would be taken up with the Ministry. The house reached a broad consensus against adopting the National Highways Act, 1956 if its provisions were seen to infringe Article 371(A) of the Constitution and concerns were recorded over land acquisition and compensation provisions. Earlier state policies constrained land compensation for NH projects between 2018 and 2023 and the State Cabinet in November 2023 resolved to permit compensation but the issue remains unresolved with the Centre. Elected representatives and tribal bodies discussed land contribution and urged cooperation to enable durable road infrastructure. The meeting was attended by representatives of 16 tribal bodies elected members Deputy Commissioners and officials of the Nagaland Public Works Department.