The Business Association of Nagas has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene, saying Assam Rifles Training Centre occupation is stalling Dimapur Airport expansion and growth.
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DIMAPUR — The Business Association of Nagas (BAN) has urged the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to intervene and direct the Assam Rifles Training Centre (ARTC) to vacate land at Dimapur Airport, stating that the continued occupation of the airport’s core operational area has become a major impediment to infrastructure development and economic growth in Nagaland.
In a representation submitted to the MHA on Saturday, BAN said around 148 acres of Dimapur Airport land remains under the “indefinite temporary” occupation of the ARTC, while an additional 14 acres is occupied by the CRPF. The association said the prolonged presence of the security establishments has stalled long-pending expansion and modernisation of the airport.
The representation comes in the wake of the recent eviction of private encroachers from airport land, which BAN described as a positive step undertaken with the support of civil society. However, the association said allowing a government entity to continue occupying critical airport land has created a “double standard” that undermines public confidence and the principle of equal application of law.
BAN stated that the state government has already allotted an alternative site at Shokhuvi in Chümoukedima for the permanent relocation of the ARTC, but alleged that delays in relocation have made the training centre the single largest bottleneck in the airport’s development. According to the association, the continued occupation has prevented runway extensions, terminal upgrades and other infrastructure works necessary to accommodate larger aircraft, increase passenger capacity and improve safety compliance.
Also read: DUCCF urges ARTC to vacate land for Dimapur airport expansion
In its submission, BAN said the constraints imposed by the occupation have affected airport master planning, safety buffers and compliance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) norms, resulting in limited flight schedules and reduced connectivity.
“This has resulted in operational inefficiencies, including limited flight schedules and reduced connectivity, hindering cargo facilities, directly affecting tourism, trade, and emergency response capabilities in Nagaland,” it said.
Highlighting Nagaland’s dependence on air connectivity due to poor road conditions, limited rail links and the absence of waterways, BAN said Dimapur Airport remains the state’s primary commercial and connectivity hub. The association argued that the stagnation of the airport has wider economic consequences, including reduced investment prospects and limited employment opportunities, particularly for educated youth.
BAN said the business community and the public have shown patience over the years, but warned that continued delays in resolving the issue are fuelling frustration. It called on the MHA to treat the matter as a critical infrastructure concern and to ensure the relocation of the ARTC to the designated site within a reasonable timeframe.
Failure to act decisively, the association cautioned, could lead to public resentment and force the business community to reassess its engagement in a region where, it said, growth is being systematically constrained.