Dimapur, July 2, 2025: Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio has once again emphasized the urgent need to expedite the expansion of Dimapur Airport, the only airport in the state, which serves as a crucial transportation link for Nagaland and adjoining areas of Assam and Manipur. Despite its strategic importance and rising passenger traffic, the long-awaited Phase I expansion has been delayed due to the non-transfer of 18.8 acres of land currently occupied by the Assam Rifles.
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Taking personal initiative to resolve the matter, the Chief Minister directed the Transport Department to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the swift release of the required land. The State Government, under his leadership and with the support of Chief Secretary Dr. J. Alam, IAS, has made notable progress in facilitating the expansion. As part of these efforts, the State successfully cleared 17.9 acres of illegally encroached land following a prolonged legal process and handed it over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Additionally, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vacated 8.4 acres of land previously under their occupation to support the project. Moreover, the Assam Rifles have already been allotted alternate land at Shokhuvi village in Chümoukedima district, where a fully operational Training Centre and School has been established.
However, despite these developments, the non-transfer of 18.8 acres out of the total 147 acres under Assam Rifles' occupation continues to stall the start of critical airport infrastructure work. In a bid to resolve the impasse, a high-level meeting was convened on July 1, 2025, in New Delhi. Chaired by Abhijit Sinah, IAS, Additional Secretary (Police II), Ministry of Home Affairs, the meeting was a direct outcome of sustained efforts led by the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary to resolve the matter. The meeting brought together key representatives, including Myingthungo Ababe Ezung, Officer on Special Duty from the Nagaland Transport Department; Moa Pongen, Director of Dimapur Airport; the Deputy General Manager (Civil Engineering) from AAI; and a representative from the Assam Rifles. The main agenda of the meeting was the release of the 18.8 acres of land necessary for initiating Phase I of the expansion plan.
Earlier, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah to highlight the gravity of the situation. In his letter, the Chief Minister noted that the inability to begin expansion due to unresolved land issues was raising serious operational and safety concerns. He pointed out that AAI's Master Plan for phased development remains stalled even at Phase I due to the pending land handover, despite the fact that the State Government and the CRPF have already vacated and handed over their portions of land. He added that since the Assam Rifles now have a fully functional alternative facility at Shokhuvi, there is no longer a valid reason for them to retain the current land in question. Despite multiple representations, the required approval for the land handover is still pending from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Chief Secretary Dr. J. Alam, IAS, also wrote to the Union Home Secretary, reiterating the State’s position. In his letter, he stated that several meetings have already taken place with Assam Rifles - the latest on June 18, 2025 - and that the Assam Rifles have expressed willingness to vacate the land, but only upon receiving a directive from the Ministry. He clarified that since this is a book transfer between two central government agencies - Assam Rifles and AAI- no structural compensation is applicable, and the transfer can be executed on an "as-is-where-is" basis. He urged the Home Ministry to issue the necessary directive for immediate handover of the land to AAI to enable timely commencement of work.
Despite substantial progress facilitated by the State Government and effective coordination with the CRPF and AAI, the lack of approval for the final 18.8-acre transfer remains the sole impediment to beginning Phase I of the Dimapur Airport expansion. The Department, under the direction of the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary, continues to vigorously pursue the matter at the highest levels. The July 1 meeting in New Delhi marks a crucial turning point in this inter-agency effort, and the Government of Nagaland has appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs to recognize the urgency and issue the directive needed to unlock a project of regional and national importance.
