Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio has called for urgent intervention from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to facilitate the long-pending transfer of 18.8 acres of land currently under the occupation of Assam Rifles, a move crucial for the commencement of Phase I expansion of Dimapur Airport, the only airport in the state.
Despite its strategic location and increasing passenger traffic, expansion of Dimapur Airport has faced significant delays due to unresolved land issues. The airport also serves neighboring areas of Assam and Manipur within a 100-kilometre radius, further underlining its regional importance.
According to a government update, taking personal initiative, Rio has directed the Transport Department to coordinate with central agencies to resolve the impasse. A high-level meeting was held in New Delhi on July 1, chaired by Abhijit Sinah, IAS, Additional Secretary (Police II), MHA. The meeting was a direct result of sustained efforts by the Chief Minister and Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam.
Attending the meeting were representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Nagaland Transport Department, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Dimapur Airport, and Assam Rifles. The primary agenda was the release of the 18.8 acres of land required to kickstart Phase I of the airport’s long-delayed expansion.
The Nagaland government has made progress on other fronts to pave the way for the project. A total of 17.9 acres of land, cleared of encroachment after prolonged legal efforts, has already been handed over to AAI.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has vacated 8.4 acres of land to support the expansion. Assam Rifles has been allotted alternate land at Shokhuvi village in Chümoukedima district, where a fully operational Training Centre and School has been established.
Despite these efforts, 18.8 acres out of 147 acres under the control of Assam Rifles is awaiting transfer, delaying critical infrastructure work.
Rio had earlier written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that the inability to expand the airport due to land constraints was raising serious operational and safety concerns. He emphasised that while the CRPF and the state government have done their part, the pending land transfer from Assam Rifles is the only remaining hurdle. He reiterated that Assam Rifles already has a functional facility at the new site, eliminating the need to retain the current land. He also noted that the matter has been raised through multiple representations without resolution.
In parallel, Chief Secretary J Alam wrote to the Union Home Secretary, underlining that Assam Rifles had expressed willingness to vacate the land, provided MHA issues the directive.
The Chief Secretary further stated that while Assam Rifles has expressed willingness to vacate the land, it is contingent on a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and structural compensation. However, since this is a book transfer between two Central Government entities, Assam Rifles and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), structural compensation does not apply, and the land can be transferred on an “as-is-where-is” basis. He urged the Home Minister to grant the necessary permissions to facilitate the immediate handover to AAI.
Despite significant progress by the State Government, along with close coordination with the CRPF and AAI, the absence of approval for the transfer of 18.8 acres of Assam Rifles land remains the sole obstacle to initiating Phase I of the Dimapur Airport expansion.
The update informed that the government continues to actively engage with the Centre to resolve the issue. The July 1 meeting in New Delhi marked a key moment in inter-agency dialogue. The state government is of the view that it is now imperative for the Ministry of Home Affairs to issue the necessary directive for the immediate transfer of the land from Assam Rifles to AAI, acknowledging both the urgency and the national importance of expanding Nagaland’s only airport.
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