Compensation issue stalls Dimapur Railway Station plan

The status of the Rs.283 crore modernization of Dimapur Railway Station came up during question hour on the third day of the eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Responding to a starred question from NPP legislator Nuklutoshi, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said developmental projects in Nagaland often face delays due to land-related issues. He informed the House that Dimapur, the state’s only major railway station, had been selected for upgradation into an international-standard facility under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. However, the project has stalled as the required land has not been made available.
Nuklutoshi pointed to negligence by stakeholders and questioned why the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) remained silent for years despite illegal constructions on railway land.
Citing reports in Nagaland Post, he noted that NFR acted only after the matter was highlighted in the media, even though more than 600 families-mostly non-Nagas-were occupying railway property.
It was also pointed out that more than 600 families were illegally occupying railway land, most of whom were reportedly non-Nagas.
Rio explained that the station, inaugurated in 1903, predates Nagaland’s statehood. He said railway authorities had measured the land long before Article 371(A) came into existence, but encroachments increased over time while authorities remained passive. Later, administrative bodies began regularising the encroachments by issuing pattas.
The chief minister suggested a joint sitting with railway authorities to reach an amicable settlement with landowners. He stressed that compensation should be provided but not at the excessively high rates currently demanded. Rio underlined the importance of upgrading Dimapur station, noting that while railway expansion is planned toward Kohima and Imphal, those facilities will be smaller, and Dimapur will continue to serve as the main gateway to the region.
Also taking part in the discussions, BJP legislator and Health & Family Welfare minister Paiwang Konyak said the modernization of Dimapur Railway Station was not a controversial issue, noting that the department, the state government, and the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) were working together to resolve land-related challenges. He informed members that the Government of India has sanctioned Rs.283 crore under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to upgrade Dimapur into a world-class facility.
He further highlighted that Dimapur is the second-highest revenue-earning station in the Northeast.
Paiwang explained that a joint survey conducted in December 2025 identified landowners within railway-occupied areas where structures had been built. Following the survey, the department informed NFR that landowners were willing to part with their land if compensated for both land and structures at double the actual land cost. A letter was subsequently sent to the Ministry of Railways, and a response is awaited.
In a supplementary question, NPP legislator Nuklutoshi argued that the issue had become controversial due to blame-shifting between the government and encroachers. He urged for an early resolution and suggested exploring relocation of the project to avoid diversion of sanctioned funds to other states.