Demolition begins at Dimapur’s Naga Shopping Arcade to make way for a modern, market-friendly complex by the Development Authority.
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DIMAPUR — The Naga Shopping Arcade, popularly known as the Super Market in Dimapur, has been undergoing demolition since October 9.
The complex, with a total plinth area of about 70,000 square feet including the basement, houses more than 80 shops impacted by the ongoing eviction drive of the Development Authority of Nagaland (DAN).
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Noleto Visa, Senior Executive Officer of DAN, said that the demolition is being undertaken as part of plans to construct a more feasible and market-friendly shopping complex.
He informed that engineers and architects are currently working on realistic and pragmatic designs, although the final blueprint is yet to be finalised.
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Clarifying reports that the entire Super Market area was being demolished, Visa stated that the ongoing demolition is limited to a specific structure near the marketing shed and not the entire Naga Shopping Arcade.
He said that the decision followed an inspection and survey by a high-powered committee, which deemed demolition necessary.
Once the process is completed, he said that the basement will be filled and allowed to settle before any construction begins.
According to Visa, there are no current directives regarding funding for the proposed complex, and the rental structure will depend on the funding model adopted.
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He further assured that Nagas will continue to receive priority for shop allotments, in accordance with the authority's consistent policy.
“This has been our standing approach and will continue to be so,” he shared.
Visa also mentioned that numerous queries regarding shop allotments have already been received but maintained that it is premature to make any plans before the detailed drawings are completed.
“The final plan for the new structure will be determined once the detailed drawings are available,” he said.
When asked about future plans for the remaining buildings along the Super Market stretch, Visa said that there are currently no proposals for other complexes.
However, he shared that the area next to the Town Hall is under consideration.
Any further developments, he added, would require submission of a proposal to the government, followed by inspection and survey by the high-powered committee.
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The demolition has also affected Jubilee Park, which includes a free public drinking water booth constructed by the Ao Students’ Union Dimapur (ASUD) in 2018 as part of its golden jubilee event.
The park, inaugurated in 2019, had transformed a garbage disposal site adjacent to Hotel Saramati at the Naga Shopping Arcade into a public space through contributions from ASUD, DAN, and well-wishers.
Responding to queries regarding the future of Jubilee Park, Visa said that plans for the affected area would be clarified once engineers and architects complete their work.
He assured that the new complex would be both feasible and usable but reiterated that it was too early to share details before the final layout is ready.