Nagaland: Supongmeren raises Dimapur airport land issue with MHA

Nagaland’s Lok Sabha MP, S. Supongmeren Jamir, has formally taken up with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) the long-pending issue of ownership and transfer of Airport land currently occupied by the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School (ARTC&S), which is crucial for the much-needed expansion of Dimapur Airport.
The MP highlighted that Dimapur Airport is the only airport in Nagaland and plays a pivotal role in the state’s connectivity, economic development, emergency services, and overall progress. However, he said its expansion has remained stalled for over a decade primarily due to land constraints.
In his communication to the MHA, Supongmeren asserted that the delay stemmed from land held by Assam Rifles and urged urgent intervention by the central government.
He cited multiple official records confirming that 392.72 acres of Dimapur Airfield land was formally handed over by the Indian Air Force to the National Airports Authority (now Airports Authority of India – AAI) with effect from September 1, 1987. The transfer was supported by handing-over/taking-over reports, letters from the Defence Estates Officer (DEO), Jorhat Circle, Government of India communications dated 1990 and 1991, and relevant extracts from the military land register.
MP further referred to a joint survey and verification report dated February 29, 2024, which established that 148.58 acres—forming part of the 392.72 acres transferred to AAI—are currently under occupation by Assam Rifles ARTC&S Dimapur.
Supongmeren pointed out that historical defence records show the land allotted to Assam Rifles in the vicinity of Dimapur Airfield in the early 1960s was on a temporary basis. He added that Assam Rifles has already been provided alternative lands in Nagaland for its training establishments.
MP noted that AAI Dimapur Airport has already submitted master plans (1 & 2) to the Government of Nagaland for the construction of a new terminal building, expansion of parking bays, and upgradation of facilities. He said these developments required the land currently occupied by Assam Rifles.
Due to the non-availability of this land, he said essential expansion works cannot proceed, and the existing airport infrastructure continued to face serious safety and security limitations.
In light of the documentary evidence, Supongmeren has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue necessary instructions for the handover of the 148.58 acres of land occupied by Assam Rifles ARTC&S Dimapur to AAI Dimapur Airport.
He emphasised that the matter was not merely administrative but was directly linked to Nagaland’s development, connectivity, and future growth.
The MP therefore called for urgent and coordinated action by the concerned central authorities to resolve the issue at the earliest.