Dimapur’s economic promise has been eclipsed by a paradox of collective ownership and collective neglect. Once Nagaland’s commercial heartbeat, the city now limps under the weight of overpopulation and outdated infrastructure. By contrast, Chümoukedima and Niuland-new districts carved out from Dimapur-are sprinting ahead precisely because their lower population density has freed up land for ambitious projects. What remains of Dimapur resembles a bottlenecked artery, with every expansion labored by cramped space and strained services. High population density-exceeding 400 residents per square kilometer-has stretched roads, drainage systems and public utilities to breaking point. Streets perpetually jammed with vehicles betray both the city’s vibrancy and its infrastructural decay. Parking has become an art of improvisation, and waste management struggles under piles of uncollected garbage. These are symptoms of long-term inattention- plans for road realignment, flood-proof drainage and dedicated parking lots have been drafted, revised and shelved for years. Comparisons with Assam’s approach to regional development amplify Dimapur’s stagnation. National highways leading up to Dimapur’s check gates on the Assam side gleam as four- and six-lane expressways. Across the border, Diphu-the administrative centre of Karbi Anglong-has emerged as a showcase of proactive governance. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s administration has bulldozed illegal encroachments to clear space for ultra-modern passenger platforms at Diphu and Bokajan railway stations and from government lands. Though Dimapur railway station generates the second-highest revenue for North Frontier Railway, serving over 4,000 travellers daily, yet those earnings have failed to spur land acquisitions for track extensions or platform upgrades. Also, air connectivity has followed a similar trajectory. Dimapur airport sits on barely half of its original 621.58 acres, its usable footprint reduced by unauthorized settlements and stalled allotments. Runways that once welcomed medium-sized jets can no longer accommodate larger aircraft, and plans for terminal expansion have never moved beyond preliminary surveys. In comparison, Dibrugarh airport sprawls over 386 acres with two aerobridges and a 7,500-foot runway. A Greenfield airport proposal near Diphu promises regular flights to Guwahati and potential links with other northeastern capitals. These developments expose a failure of political will more than an absence of resources. Dimapur’s elected representatives must step beyond periodic expressions of concern and actively safeguard land designated for public use. Legal vacuums allow encroachers to entrench themselves, while state agencies-airport authorities, railways and municipal bodies-default to inertia rather than interlocking coordination. Without decisive interventions to repossess land, upgrade amenities and streamline approvals, Dimapur will continue to languish amid its own promise. Dimapur’s decline is not due to a lack of resources but a failure of political will. Elected representatives must move beyond rhetoric and safeguard land designated for public use. Legal vacuums allow encroachers to entrench themselves, while state agencies default to inertia. Without decisive action to reclaim land, upgrade amenities, and streamline approvals, Dimapur will continue to languish. Reviving Dimapur requires reframing ambition as a shared responsibility. Strategic land acquisition, phased infrastructure projects, and strict enforcement against illegal occupation are critical. Failure to act will not only dim the city’s prospects but also widen economic disparities across Nagaland. With time running out, what is needed is collective action now-before Dimapur’s promise becomes a distant memory.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025