Dimapur Airport, Nagaland’s only aviation hub, stands at a crucial juncture, with expansion plans aimed at meeting rising passenger demands and boosting regional connectivity confronted by problems that have been ignored for decades.
Dimapur airport, which handled civilian aircraft since the mid-70s and among the oldest of airports is hindered by challenges such as land encroachment, inadequate infrastructure, and ongoing financial issues, which are impacting its ability to serve as a regional air travel centre.
Encroachment: Documents available with Nagaland Post, reveal that one of the airport’s critical limitations is restricted land availability. Currently, 117.4 acres, essential for the airport’s growth, are occupied by the Central Reserve Police Force and Assam Rifles, while another 17.9 acres are tied up in disputes or encroachments.
For compliance with DGCA standards and to avoid operational penalties, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had proposed a phased expansion, requiring an additional 134.13 acres in Phase I for runway extension and other necessary enhancements. While Phase II aims to secure another 230 acres to support larger aircraft, develop city-side infrastructure, and extend the runway by 600 meters to enable more connectivity.
Cargo & storage shortfalls: Dimapur Airport’s cargo operations suffer due to a lack of adequate facilities. Despite opening the Common User Domestic Cargo Terminal (CUDCT) in March 2021, essential equipment, including X-ray machines and scanners, are still absent, restricting cargo efficiency. Additionally, the absence of dedicated cold storage facilities hampers the safe handling of perishable goods, which are left in open-air, impacting quality and sensitive shipments.
Lack of cargo has hindered export of numerous items especially famed Naga organic vegetables in huge demand in metro cities. Currently, most of these items are being transported from Imphal by cargo to entrepreneurs from Manipur at metro cities.
RCS and debt: Dimapur airport’s status under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) remains contentious, as the state government asserts that the airport was operational before its RCS classification based on the memorandum between AAI and Ministry of Civil Aviation. The State government currently owes approximately Rs. 19.78 crore for fire and security services since April 2024 to the AAI, adding financial strain to the airport’s operations.
Ongoing modernization: Efforts to modernize Dimapur airport are ongoing, including updates to the Instrument Landing System (ILS), Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) replacement, and enhanced surveillance.
However, the terminal still relies on personnel from other departments for key operations, such as security and cargo, thus affecting efficiency.
In the last fiscal year (2023-24), Dimapur airport processed around 308,495 passengers, averaging 850 daily. The airport currently operates 52 weekly scheduled flights by Indigo, Air India, and Alliance Air, with additional non-scheduled charters and helicopter services for defense and medical needs.
The traffic has much more potential for growth but the state government, unlike those in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur etc. isn’t taking interest in pressing the civil aviation ministry for better flight connectivity with other metro cities.