Land grab vrs development

The recent discussion in the Nagaland Assembly about Dimapur railway station has brought long-standing concerns of rampant encroachment back into focus. These have been highlighted by Nagaland Post since the mid-90s. In the ongoing session and NPP legislator Nuklutoshi cited reports in this newspaper when he raised the issue of stagnation in the station’s development. By raising the issue, the NPP member compelled the state government to respond. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio acknowledged that the station, inaugurated in 1903, predates Nagaland’s statehood and explained that railway authorities had measured and occupied the land long before Article 371(A) came into existence. Over time, however, encroachments multiplied, and instead of addressing them, administrative authorities began regularising these occupations by issuing land pattas. Dimapur railway station is not only vital for Nagaland but also serves passengers from Manipur, Karbi Anglong, and parts of Assam. It is the second-highest revenue earner for the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Yet, despite its importance, the station has suffered from neglect. NFR has gradually reduced its significance by shifting long-distance trains that once originated from Dimapur. The Jan Shatabdi, introduced in 1996, was extended to Furkating and later Jorhat, leaving Dimapur with only a brief halt. Similarly, the BG Express, launched in 1998, was moved to Mariani in 2020, while the Nagaland Express, introduced in 2011, was shifted to Ledo by 2020. As a result, none of the 41 long-distance trains originate from Dimapur. This decline is particularly striking given that the station serves nearly 10,000 passengers daily, yet only around 1,600 reserved tickets are issued. Encroachment remains the central issue, with about 30 hectares of the 50 hectares of railway land occupied. Many of these lands were leased in the 1960s for godowns, while others were taken over by former railway employees who managed to secure permissions or pattas. Such encroachments have provided NFR with justification to discourage travelers from using Dimapur, pushing them instead to book tickets from stations like Furkating, Mariani, Jorhat, or Bokajan. This strategy reduces Dimapur’s revenue and threatens its standing as a major station. A ray of hope emerged in August 2023 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a redevelopment plan for 508 railway stations nationwide. Dimapur was included in this list, with a budget of ₹283 crore allocated for its modernization. The project envisions expanding the station building from 5,160 square meters to 17,484 square meters, creating spacious waiting areas, food plazas, green buildings, solar panels, and rainwater harvesting systems. However, in May 2025, NFR officials warned the Naga Council Dimapur that unless encroached land is reclaimed, the project risks being reduced to superficial upgrades rather than genuine transformation. The future of Dimapur railway station thus, hangs in the balance. Without decisive action from the state government to reclaim land and prioritize development, the station risks being downgraded to a feeder station for Dhansiri or Bokajan. For a facility that has historically been central to the region’s connectivity and economy, such an outcome would be a serious setback. The issue now demands urgent attention, not only to preserve Dimapur’s role as a vital transport hub but also to ensure that the promises of modernization translate into meaningful progress and in this regard, the state government owes it to the people and the future.