Assam Rifles hands over 18.8 acres for Dimapur Airport expansion
Synopsis
After years of delays and a direct appeal from Nagaland's Chief Minister to the Union Home Minister, the Assam Rifles has formally handed over 18.8 acres at Chumoukedima to the AAI — finally unlocking Phase-I of the Dimapur Airport expansion. The move unblocks a master plan that had been stalled before it even began, with Phase-II land transfer still pending.
Key Takeaways
Assam Rifles formally handed over 18.8 acres at Chumoukedima to the AAI on 9 May 2025 for Dimapur Airport expansion.
The transfer follows a direct appeal by CM Neiphiu Rio to Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene via the MHA .
Of the total 147 acres under Assam Rifles occupation, the 18.8 acres had been pending transfer for a long period, stalling Phase-I works.
CRPF had earlier vacated 8.4 acres in support of the Phase-I expansion plan.
Transfer of remaining land for Phase-II expansion still requires further directives from central authorities.
Dimapur Airport is Nagaland's only airport, serving residents across a 100 km radius including parts of Assam and Manipur.
The Assam Rifles formally handed over 18.8 acres of land at its Training Centre and School in Chumoukedima to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on 9 May 2025, marking a long-awaited breakthrough in the expansion of Dimapur Airport — the only airport in Nagaland. A joint handing-over and taking-over ceremony was conducted in the presence of senior state and central government officials, officials said.
Key Developments at the Ceremony
Dimapur Airport Director Moa Pongen, Assam Rifles Commandant K.D. Sharma, and several senior Nagaland government officials attended the joint execution programme. Officials inspected the identified 18.8-acre area situated within the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School premises in Chumoukedima district before the formal transfer ceremony was conducted.
Discussions during the meeting also covered the transfer of remaining land currently under Assam Rifles occupation, which is required for the Phase-II expansion of the airport. It was agreed that further directives from appropriate authorities would be needed to facilitate that transfer.
Background: A Long-Pending Land Dispute
Of the total 147 acres under Assam Rifles occupation, the 18.8 acres had remained pending for transfer for a considerable period, stalling key infrastructure and expansion works at Dimapur Airport. The delay had prompted Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio to write to Union Home Minister Amit Shah last year, urging him to intervene and facilitate the transfer through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
In his letter, CM Rio had stated that the inability to expand the airport due to land constraints was creating serious operational and safety concerns. The AAI's master plan for the phased development of the airport had remained stalled even at Phase I because of the pending land transfer.
Notably, the Assam Rifles had already been allotted alternative land at Shokhuvi village in Chumoukedima district, where a new training centre and school have since been established and are fully operational. Earlier, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had also vacated 8.4 acres under its occupation, supporting the Phase-I expansion plan.
Why Dimapur Airport Expansion Matters
Dimapur Airport is the sole air gateway for Nagaland and serves not only the state's residents but also people from adjoining areas of Assam and Manipur within a radius of nearly 100 km. Despite its strategic importance and rising passenger traffic, expansion efforts had long been hampered by unresolved land-related issues.
The airport's limited infrastructure has posed both operational and safety challenges, making the land handover a critical step in addressing long-standing connectivity concerns for the Northeast region.
What Happens Next
With Phase-I land now secured, attention shifts to the transfer of the remaining Assam Rifles land required for Phase-II development. Officials confirmed that further directives from appropriate central authorities will be required to unlock the next stage. The milestone is expected to allow the AAI to restart stalled development works and progress toward a more capable airport that meets the region's growing aviation demands.
Point of View
But it also exposes how fragile Northeast infrastructure planning remains when a single parcel of 18.8 acres can stall an entire airport master plan for years. The fact that an alternative site for the Assam Rifles had already been operational — yet the formal transfer dragged on until a Chief Minister had to write personally to the Home Minister — points to a coordination failure between defence and civil aviation ministries that is far from unique to Nagaland. With Phase-II transfer still unresolved, the risk of another prolonged standoff is real unless the MHA issues proactive directives rather than waiting for the next escalation.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What land was handed over for Dimapur Airport expansion?
The Assam Rifles handed over 18.8 acres of land at its Training Centre and School in Chumoukedima district, Nagaland, to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on 9 May 2025. The transfer is intended to facilitate the Phase-I expansion of Dimapur Airport.
Why had the Dimapur Airport expansion been delayed for so long?
The expansion was stalled primarily because 18.8 acres out of the 147 acres under Assam Rifles occupation had not been formally transferred to the AAI, despite the Assam Rifles having already shifted to an alternative site at Shokhuvi village. Unresolved land-related issues had held up the AAI's master plan even at Phase I.
What role did Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio play in the land transfer?
CM Neiphiu Rio had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to direct the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate the transfer, citing serious operational and safety concerns caused by the airport's inability to expand. The intervention is credited with accelerating the resolution.
Is the Dimapur Airport expansion now complete?
No. The 18.8-acre handover unlocks Phase-I of the expansion. Phase-II will require the transfer of additional land still under Assam Rifles occupation, and officials confirmed that further directives from appropriate central authorities are needed before that process can begin.
Why is Dimapur Airport strategically important?
Dimapur Airport is the only airport in Nagaland and serves residents across a nearly 100 km radius, including adjoining areas of Assam and Manipur. Its limited capacity has long posed operational and safety challenges despite rising passenger traffic.
