Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Renchamo P Kikon on Saturday said all necessary security arrangements are in place for the ensuing 26th edition of the Hornbill Festival scheduled to be held from December 1 to 10.

Addressing a press briefing at the state Police Headquarters (PHQ), Kikon informed that similar to the previous years, a three-tier security system will be deployed to ensure smooth conduct of the festival. He said the police anticipate a peaceful ten-day celebration without any security issues.

The official also announced that no armed personnel will be allowed inside the main arena at Kisama- Naga Heritage Village, maintaining the practice followed in previous editions of the event. He informed that the only exceptions will be VVIPs accompanied by Z-plus protectives. “Even in such cases, security personnel will be permitted to carry only small, concealed weapons,” Kikon stated.

“There will be no visible arms inside the festival arena, except for the Tourist Police and the District Police on duty,” he said, adding that the directive was reiterated by the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who has communicated the requirement to all security forces operating in the state. Army escorts trucks and vehicles will be allowed entry from Gate-1 and have to park at Kigwema ground.

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With regard to traffic management, the ADGP said there has been significant improvement over the years, noting that last year’s edition of the festival witnessed “seamless” regulation with minimal complaints from the public.

It was also informed during the briefing that any individual or department intending to operate drone during the festival at the venue would need to obtain prior permission from the PHQ. Offenders would be prosecuted as per law.

Meanwhile, Additional SP (Traffic) Puzoto Khatso highlighted the traffic management plan for the upcoming Hornbill Festival. He informed that all vehicles at Kisama would be parked at the following designated Parking Zones as per car pass allotted:

Car pass category and access: 

“Z” for VVIPs – Main Arena/ WW-II Museum

“X” for HODs – Parking Lot (Near Gate-2)

“Y” for others – Parking Lot (Near Gate-2)

PwDs- Parking Lot (Near Gate-2)

Organizer- Amphitheatre

Artist – Amphitheatre

“Vendor” for service providers – Entry via JCC till their stalls and exit through Imagiland to NH.

It was informed that entry of vehicles inside the venue will be allowed for valid car pass holders only from main Gate-1 and parking at main parking near Gate-2. “Vendor” car passes will not be allowed entry from Gate-1 but will be given entry via Japfü Christian College and inside the arena via Legislators’ Park road, and exit via Imagiland after drop off. Entry timing has been fixed before 9:00 AM and after 6:00 PM.

Entry to the main arena via 2nd Gate shall be allowed for vehicles with car pass “Z” only and they will be parked near Main Arena/WW-II Museum.

Entry for Organiser/Artist will be allowed at Gate-1 and entry via Imagiland junction and parking at Amphitheatre.

Vehicles with car passes “X”, “Y” and PwDs would be parked at the main Parking Area Kisama (near Gate No. 2). Exit for vehicles parked at parking lot near Gate 2 will be via Imagiland for Southern/Manipur bound vehicles and via Rhododendron resort/NH for Kohima bound vehicles.

Police also informed that parking facility for small vehicles (LMVs) will also be made available at Phesama ground.

Alternate route for vehicles coming from Dimapur/ Chümoukedima to Kisama will be via Old KMC Check Gate – Jotsoma – Nagaland College of Music and Fine Arts – Forest colony – BSNL exchange – PHQ Point – Phesama – Kisama.

Vehicle owners have been advised to keep their contact numbers pasted on the windshield of their vehicles during parking.

It was also informed that vehicles parked on the NH within ROW between Phesama old check gate and venue (Kisama) shall be towed without further warning as per the provision of section 127 MV Act and any damages to vehicles during the towing process will be borne by the vehicles owners. Vehicle owners shall be responsible for all towing costs (Rs. 1500/-) and shall also be penalized u/s 201 MV Act (Rs 500/-).

A total number of 35 free shuttle bus services from Kigwema Ground parking to Kisama venue would be available. 10 shuttle bus service by NST – 5 from PHQ point and 5 from ISBT on payment basis with fares fixed from PHQ point Rs. 50/- and from ISBT Rs. 80/-.

No heavy vehicles will be allowed to enter Kohima from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM from
December 1-10. Heavy vehicles coming from Manipur towards Kohima will be diverted towards Kidima – Chakhabama – BSF/Keyake – NBCC/High Court Meriema – 10 Mile – Peducha.

All vehicles without car pass shall be parked at Kigwema public ground on payment basis. Free to & fro shuttle service will be provided from the parking area at Kigwema public ground to the venue (Kisama) and vice versa. Entry for shuttle services will be via main Gate – 1 and dropping at parking lot near Gate-2, while exit will be via Imagiland to NH/Parking lot.

Traffic plan for Kohima town during Hornbill Night Carnival:

• The road stretch from Y-Junction Phoolbari to Razhü Point shall be closed for all vehicular traffic from 4:00 PM to 09:00 PM daily w.e.f 1st to 10th Dec’ 2025.
• All LMVs will be diverted from Y-Junction to Razhü Point via the new route adjacent to Local Ground (Khuochiezie).
• Heavy public utility vehicles proceeding towards high school area will be diverted from TCP gate.
• There will be no-entry for vehicular traffic from New Market road to New NST.
• Southern bound city buses will terminate at Phoolbari traffic point and Northern bound city buses will terminate at Razhü point.