Nagaland assembly pushes for Dimapur station upgrade
The 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on Monday deliberated on the pressing need to modernise the Dimapur Railway Station, with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio calling for an “amicable settlement” to the long-standing land disputes that threaten the Rs 283-crore project.
During the eighth session of the House, the Chief Minister underscored the historical significance of the station, which was inaugurated in 1903. Rio noted that the station predates the very formation of Nagaland in 1963, pointing out that railway authorities had occupied and measured the land decades before modern State-specific constitutional land provisions were enacted.
Initiating the discussion, MLA Nuklutoshi criticised the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) for its prolonged silence. He questioned why the railway authorities failed to lodge complaints as illegal constructions sprouted on railway land over the years. Nuklutoshi suggested that the state now faces three difficult paths: payment of compensation for resettlement of the settlers, forceful eviction, or shifting the railway station to an entirely new location.
Replying to the discussion, Minister for Health & Family Welfare P Pawang Konyak informed the House that the Centre has already earmarked Rs 283 crore for the upgrade.
He reminded the members that Dimapur remains the second-highest revenue-earning station in the Northeast, highlighting its strategic importance.
Konyak confirmed that both the State Department and landowners have formally approached the Ministry of Railways regarding compensation and are currently awaiting a response. Chief Minister Rio cautioned that while a constructive dialogue with Indian Railways is essential, compensation demands must remain reasonable. He observed that the situation was further complicated by past administrative decisions that regularised certain encroachments.
“The State cannot afford to lose the opportunity to develop and expand this crucial rail hub,” Rio asserted.
He further clarified that while railway expansion projects towards Kohima are progressing, those stations will be smaller in scale. Dimapur is slated to remain the primary railway gateway for Nagaland, making the resolution of these land hurdles a matter of “State priority.”
