Kohima, May 9: Officials announced that a joint event took place on Friday, where the Assam Rifles Training Center and School transferred 18.8 acres of land for the expansion of Dimapur Airport to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
A senior official from the Nagaland government stated that the event included Dimapur Airport Director Moa Pongen, Assam Rifles Commandant K.D. Sharma, and several other senior officials from the state government. During the event, officials inspected the designated 18.8-acre area within the Assam Rifles Training Center and School campus in Chumoukedima district.
Following the inspection, a formal ‘Transfer and Acquisition’ ceremony was held in the presence of senior state officials, marking a significant step towards the long-awaited expansion of Dimapur Airport.
During the meeting, officials also discussed issues related to the transfer of the remaining land occupied by the Assam Rifles Training Center and School. This land is essential for the Phase-2 expansion of the airport.
It was agreed that further instructions from the relevant authorities would be necessary to facilitate the transfer of the remaining land required for the second phase of development. An official noted that this transfer and acquisition event is a crucial milestone in the overall development plan for Dimapur Airport.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had previously requested intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assist in the transfer of the 18.8 acres occupied by the Assam Rifles, stating that this land is vital for the airport expansion project.
According to officials, the Assam Rifles has already been allocated another plot of land in Shokhuvi village in Chumoukedima district, where a new training center and school have been established and are fully operational.
Despite these developments, 18.8 acres of the total 147 acres occupied by the Assam Rifles had long been pending transfer, causing delays in significant infrastructure work and expansion activities at Dimapur Airport.
Earlier, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vacated 8.4 acres of land, supporting the Phase-1 expansion plan for the airport.
Officials reported that the Chief Minister urged the Union Home Minister to issue necessary directives through the Ministry of Home Affairs to streamline the land transfer process and ensure timely commencement of development activities.
In his letter to Amit Shah, the Chief Minister expressed that the inability to expand Dimapur Airport due to land shortages raises serious concerns regarding operations and safety.
The master plan for the phased development of the airport by the Airports Authority of India has been stalled due to delays in land transfer, affecting the initial phase.
It is noteworthy that Dimapur Airport, the only airport in Nagaland, plays a crucial role in connecting the state with the rest of the country. It serves not only the people of Nagaland but also residents from Assam and Manipur within a 100-kilometer radius.
Officials further indicated that despite the strategic importance of the airport and the increasing number of passengers, persistent land-related issues have long hindered expansion efforts.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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