Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio is personally spearheading efforts to expedite the long-awaited expansion of Dimapur Airport, which continues to face delays due to longstanding land issues.
The Transport Department, in coordination with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and other stakeholders, is actively pursuing the release of 18.8 acres of land currently under the occupation of the Assam Rifles, critical component for Phase I of the airport’s expansion.
According to a DIPR report, under the Chief Minister’s leadership and with the close coordination of Chief Secretary, Dr. J Alam, IAS, the State Government has already cleared 17.9 acres of land from illegal encroachment after a prolonged legal battle and handed it over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
In a significant development, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has also vacated 8.4 acres, enabling further progress under Phase I. Meanwhile, the Assam Rifles have been allotted alternate land at Shokhuvi village in Chümoukedima district, where a new Training Centre and School is now fully operational.
However, 18.8 acres out of the 147 acres under Assam Rifles’ occupation remain untransferred, stalling critical infrastructure work at Nagaland’s only airport.
Meanwhile, a high-level inter-agency meeting was convened on July 1, 2025, in New Delhi, chaired by Abhijit Sinha, IAS, Additional Secretary (Police II), Ministry of Home Affairs. The meeting was a result of sustained advocacy by Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio and Chief Secretary Dr Alam to break the deadlock. It was attended by Myingthungo Ababe Ezung, OSD, Transport Department; Moa Pongen, Director, Dimapur Airport; a Deputy General Manager from AAI; and representatives from Assam Rifles.
The primary agenda was the release of the remaining 18.8 acres of land by the Assam Rifles for the airport expansion.
Abhijit Sinha, IAS, Additional Secretary (Police II), Ministry of Home Affairs with Myingthungo Ababe Ezung, OSD, Transport Department; Moa Pongen, Director, Dimapur Airport at New Delhi. (DIPR)
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Earlier, the Chief Minister had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stressing that the Dimapur Airport expansion had been hampered due to unresolved land issues, posing operational and safety concerns. He highlighted that although the AAI’s Master Plan for phased development is ready, Phase I itself remains stalled due to the pending land transfer.
CM Rio pointed out that the State Government and CRPF have already fulfilled their commitments, vacating and transferring the required land. The Assam Rifles, now fully accommodated at their new Shokhuvi facility, no longer require the present land. Despite multiple representations, approval for the transfer remains pending.
Chief Secretary Dr. J Alam also wrote to the Union Home Secretary, reiterating the urgency of the matter. He emphasized that although Assam Rifles has shown willingness to vacate the land pending MHA instructions, the demand for structural compensation is not applicable in this case since the transfer is between two Central Government entities—AAI and Assam Rifles. Therefore, he urged that the land be handed over on an “as-is-where-is” basis without further delay.
Despite significant progress achieved through coordination between the State Government, CRPF, and AAI, the absence of final approval from MHA for transferring the 18.8 acres remains the sole impediment to starting construction work under Phase I.
The Transport Department, under the directive of CM Rio and Chief Secretary Dr. Alam, continues to pursue the matter at the highest levels of the Central Government. The July 1 meeting marks a critical turning point in inter-agency coordination.
With national infrastructure significance, the Dimapur Airport expansion project is vital for improving connectivity in Nagaland and adjoining regions. It is now imperative that the Ministry of Home Affairs issue necessary directions to enable the immediate transfer of land from the Assam Rifles to the AAI.
