Dimapur, June 16 (EMN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the government of India to expedite various projects left pending in the state including the Greenfield Airport at Ciethu, Kohima; Trans-Nagaland Highway (Foothill Road); Dimapur-Tizit railway line along the foothills.
A press release from the chief minister’ office on Sunday informed that Rio made the plea while addressing the 5th governing council meeting of the Niti Aayog at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on June 15.
He highlighted that Ciethu Airport was proposed in 2003 but even after feasibility surveys and studies by various central government agencies and preparation of DPR, the project was still pending. “Rio pointed out that the project may be a little costlier than other airports in the country but that was primarily due to the terrain and amount of earth cutting needed. He said that villagers of the area were prepared to give additional land as per requirement for which the state government had consented to bear the cost.”
On the 400 km Trans-Nagaland Highway (Foothill Road), Rio stated that it would connect Tizit in Mon to Khelma in Peren district bordering Assam via Dimapur town across six districts of Nagaland along the foothills. It will connect the state with Arunachal Pradesh in the north and Assam in the south. He pointed out this road will improve connectivity and boost economic activities across the state. He also urged the centre for declaration of the alignment as National Highway and expeditious sanction of the project.
The chief minister also highlighted the need to expand railways in the state and said that the Dimapur-Zubza railway line was underway while the Dimapur-Tizit railway line along the foothills needs to be expedited.
“Raising the long pending demand for an economic development package for Eastern Nagaland districts bordering Myanmar, the chief minister said that a meeting was held between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the government of Nagaland last month after which a Multi-Disciplinary Committee was constituted by the MHA on 12th June, 2019 with directives to submit its report on or before 31st August 2019. The chief minister hoped that the development gaps in those districts would soon be addressed,” it stated.
Rio thanked the government of India for converting all Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) for the Northeast to 90:10 funding pattern; and for making the North-East Road Sector Development Schemes (NERSDS) 100 % centrally funded. He expressed hope that the government of India would convert all existing CSS to 100 % central funding for the Northeast and Himalayan states.
