Nagaland: A race against time for Dimapur to remain ahead

A stage is set where the fate of not only Dimapur but Nagaland is at stake as Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has unveiled plans to transform Diphu to become more developed than Dimapur.
Diphu, the district headquarters of Karbi Anglong, is located about 38 kilometres from Dimapur. Diphu became the district headquarters in 1951, while Dimapur, an ancient capital city, traces its origins to the period between 1330 and 1370.
In economic terms, Dimapur continues to remain well ahead of Diphu. Dimapur’s per capita income stood at 1.94 lakh in 2022–23 with a population of about 1.77 lakh, whereas Diphu recorded a per capita income of1.24 lakh during the same period with a population of roughly 88,000. Dimapur’s railway station was established in 1903, and its airport was constructed during World War II in 1944–45 before being opened for civilian use in 1972.
Diphu’s railway station, serving Karbi Anglong district, came up in 1951. Given these advantages, there was little basis for comparing the pace of development between the two towns for decades.
Although Dimapur’s growth trajectory began to slow from the mid-1990s due to rising extortion and harassment faced by business establishments, the city has retained its lead largely because of its earlier economic expansion.
However, that advantage is now under pressure as Karbi Anglong, particularly Diphu town, is witnessing a strong push for transformation. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced plans aimed at making Diphu more developed than Dimapur.
Diphu is set to unveil several major infrastructure projects, including an international-standard swimming pool, a state-of-the-art cancer hospital, a modern flyover, and a lake beautification project to enhance urban aesthetics, connectivity, and public health. Plans have also been announced for a greenfield airport near Diphu in the Kheroni area under a Special Development Project for Karbi Anglong.
The proposed airport is expected to improve regional connectivity, tourism, and economic activity, with direct air links to Guwahati and Jorhat initially, followed by other major cities.
Also the NFR is looking at improving Bokajan railway station as alternative to Dimapur railway station. Due to land encroachment at Dimapur no expansion or redevelopment can take place and the NFR cannot wait indefinitely.
To ease traffic congestion at Diphu, a 1.4-kilometre four-lane flyover from Diphu Stadium to the General Post Office, built at a cost of `198 crore, is nearing completion. In addition, major modern sports stadia and other sports infrastructure projects have been initiated across Karbi Anglong district.
In contrast, to counter Diphu’s rapid development and ensure that Dimapur does not lose its long-held edge, there is an urgent need to accelerate infrastructure development in Dimapur. A vision document proposes the construction of a micro mini-city on the existing Naga Shopping Arcade land under the Development Authority of Nagaland. The objective is to revitalise Dimapur’s urban economy and attract large-scale investment. The plan envisages a multi-functional commercial and public hub with malls, office spaces, hospitality facilities, residential units, cultural venues, and multi-level parking.
The proposed mini-city includes two shopping malls, a 100-room five-star hotel, corporate and government office spaces, residential flats for officials, a multicultural hall with seating for 1,500 to 2,000 people, landscaped promenades, an amphitheatre, and parking for 500 to 600 vehicles. Green spaces, water bodies, and energy-efficient architecture are also part of the proposal to create an environmentally sustainable urban zone.
It is understood that the Development Authority of Nagaland is currently demolishing existing structures for reconstruction of shops. However, if the project follows the New Market model, where tenants pay advance or salami and take possession later, it risks becoming yet another conventional market. Even parts of the existing Super Market area near the Circuit House resemble an ordinary bazaar, depriving the city of the aesthetic benefits that a modern complex could have provided.
If the Super Market area is redeveloped into a modern micro-city complex as envisioned, it could significantly transform Dimapur while also encouraging expansion towards East Dimapur and Chümoukedima. Over time, these three areas could merge into a single mega-city in the Northeast.
The strategic focus should be on strengthening Dimapur’s existing advantages rather than diverting attention to entirely new city projects. Implementing the vision document effectively would naturally lead to the emergence of a mega urban region comprising Dimapur, East Dimapur, and Chümoukedima. For this to happen, the people of Dimapur and surrounding areas need to collectively visualise a shared future and recognise that time is running out and ignoring it will be economically catastrophic.