Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is fast-tracking a strategic infrastructure overhaul, which is a message that the economic center of gravity in the Northeast is shifting.
Sarma’s focus has been to develop Diphu and surpass Dimapur, Nagaland’s commercial hub. Thus, Dimapur, now faces an urgent ultimatum to modernize its air and rail connectivity within the next five to ten years or risk being permanently eclipsed by its neighbor.
In this regard, the Assam government is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation in March 2026 to develop four new airports, with Diphu at the forefront.
Located at Chotalangfer (Borlangphar), the proposed Diphu greenfield airport is not merely a local project; it is a strategic maneuver. By establishing direct air links to major Indian metros from Karbi Anglong, Assam is positioning Diphu as a viable, modern alternative to Dimapur’s aging infrastructure.
For decades, Dimapur has served as the gateway to Nagaland and Manipur. However, the “Diphu Push” threatens this status in three critical areas:
Commercial Dominance: If Diphu secures superior air and rail logistics, businesses and cargo movement will naturally bypass Dimapur’s congested routes.
Infrastructure Stagnation: While Nagaland discusses Ciethu and Razuphema Greenfield Airport, Assam has already moved to the MoU and feasibility stage for its projects.
Strategic Logistics: CM Sarma’s focus on Emergency Landing Facilities and resilient infrastructure- capable of operating even during floods-contrasts sharply with the seasonal vulnerabilities of Dimapur’s current transport links.
Regional ‘Checkmate’
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been unapologetically proactive, linking infrastructure directly to national security and regional dominance. Beyond Diphu, his “strategic push” includes:
- Guwahati terminal: New operations beginning February 22, cementing its status as the Northeast’s primary aviation hub.
- State-wide network: Simultaneous development in Majuli, Umrangso, and Manas to capture the tourism and trade market.
- National security integration: Developing ELFs that double as civilian-defense assets, ensuring central funding and rapid execution.
“Those who object to strategic infrastructure are not acting in the interest of the nation,” Sarma stated, signaling that Assam will move forward with or without regional consensus.
The development of Diphu is a wake-up call for Nagaland. Dimapur’s survival as a commercial powerhouse and the modernization of Dimapur railway station.
Without a mirrored urgency in Dimapur, the city risks becoming a secondary stop on a map dominated by Assam’s rapidly expanding connectivity web. The window for Dimapur to reclaim its “Gateway” status is closing as the first flights to Diphu prepare for takeoff.
Proposed Actions
To prevent Dimapur from being “shadowed” by the Diphu push, the following steps are requested with immediate effect:
Airport land: Ensure that ARTC vacates the 148.58-acre land at the earliest so that construction for expansion of modern facilities to Dimapur airport can begin.
Rail Land Recovery: Initiate a time-bound eviction of the 30 hectares of encroached railway land to allow NFR to utilize the Rs. 283 crore sanctioned for “world-class” redevelopment before funds are diverted to neighboring states.
Connectivity Recalibration: There is need to formally petition the Ministry of Railways to restore originating trains to Dimapur and increase the seat quota to 2,000+ to match current demand.
Infrastructure is a zero-sum game in a competitive regional economy. Every day of delay in Dimapur is a day of progress for Diphu. The state Government must treat Dimapur’s connectivity not just as a PWD project, but as a Strategic Necessity for Nagaland’s survival in the Act East era.