Correspondent/DIPR
The airport expansion at Dimapur airport is facing delay as the Assam Rifles has yet agree to immediately vacate 18.8 acres for starting work on Phase-I for construction of aerobridge, proposed parking bay for 14 aircrafts and helicopters from the present four.
Phase –I is crucial for immediate airport expansion since passengers are facing numerous hardships.
On the other hand, the CRPF has agreed to vacate 8.4 acres for Phase –I and shift to the plot at Chümoukedima. CRPF has also agreed to eventually vacate the remaining 11.6 acres for Phase-II.
The delay by the Assam Rifles is over its demand for compensation of Rs.16 crore for some buildings over the 18.8 acre area. However, it was learnt that on inspection, the houses are in a dilapidated condition and unoccupied. It was learnt that the estimate was prepared sometime during 2023-24 by the government works and housing department without taking cognizance of the depreciation. Surprisingly the Schedule of Rate for the estimate was based on current rate for new buildings.
However, though the Assam Rifles had already been allotted alternative land at Shokhuvi village in Chümoukedima district, where a new Training Centre and School has been established and is now fully operational, 18.8 acres out of 147 acres under the occupation of the paramilitary force remains un-transferred, delaying critical airport infrastructure work.
Phase –II includes construction of cargo terminal, cold storage, restaurants, shopping, offices etc. Once the proposed expansion takes place it will transform Dimapur airport to International standard crucial for the Act East policy of the government of India.
Meanwhile, according to DIPR, to address the issue, a high-level meeting was convened in New Delhi on Tuesday, which was chaired by Abhijit Sinha, additional secretary (Police II), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and attended by Myingthungo Ababe Ezung, OSD, Transport department; Dimapur Airport director Moa Pongen, AAI deputy general manager (civil engineering), and representative from Assam Rifles.
The primary agenda of the meeting was release of the 18.8 acres of land held by Assam Rifles required for Phase I expansion. The meeting followed sustained efforts led by chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and chief secretary Dr J Alam to resolve the issue.
The meeting New Delhi marked a critical point of inter-agency dialogue vis-à-vis expanding the only airport in Nagaland. Dimapur Airport, the only airport in the State of Nagaland, plays a critical role in connecting the region with the rest of the country. It serves not only the people of Nagaland but also adjoining areas of Assam and Manipur within a 100 km radius. Despite its strategic importance and rising passenger traffic, expansion efforts have been severely constrained due to longstanding land issues.
To address this, chief minister Dr Neiphiu Rio has taken a personal initiative to expedite the development of the airport. In line with this, the Transport Department, in coordination with the MHA and relevant stakeholders, has been actively pursuing the release of 18.8 acres of land currently occupied by Assam Rifles, essential for Phase I of the airport’s expansion.
The state government has successfully cleared 17.9 acres of land from illegal encroachment after a prolonged legal battle and handed it over to the AAI, while the CRPF has vacated 8.4 acres of land under its occupation.
Dr. Rio had earlier addressed a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighting the inability to expand Dimapur Airport due to land constraints, thereby causing serious operational and safety concerns. He stated that the AAI’s master plan for phased development had been hindered at Phase I due to pending land transfer. He claimed that the state government and CRPF had done their part by vacating and handing over the required land.
However, approval for handover of Assam Rifles land was still pending despite multiple representations being made and despite the paramilitary force already having a fully functional facility at Shokhuvi, negating the need to retain the current land.
Rio requested urgent instructions from the MHA to facilitate the transfer and ensure timely commencement of developmental works.
The chief secretary also wrote to the Union Home Secretary reiterating the state’s position. He underscored that several meetings, the latest on June 18, 2025, had been held with Assam Rifles to resolve the issue, but the land was yet to be vacated despite repeated assurances and reminders.
He further stated that Assam Rifles had expressed willingness to vacate the land subject to MHA’s directive and structural compensation. But, since this was a book transfer between two central government entities (Assam Rifles and AAI), structural compensation was not applicable, and the transfer could be made on an “as-is-where-is” basis. He requested the Union Home Minister to grant necessary permissions to enable immediate handover of land to AAI.
At the chief minister and chief secretary’s instruction, the Transport Department was actively pursuing the matter at the highest levels.