Neiphiu Rio with cabinet colleagues and others during the
ribbon cutting of the upgraded Dimapur Town Hall at Naga Shopping Arcade, on Tuesday.
INR 19.9 crore upgrade adds grandeur to landmark Dimapur
Town Hall
DIMAPUR — Chief
Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday said that with clear indicative of rapid
urbanisation not only in the megacities across the world but also in Nagaland,
the importance given to urban development becomes even more imperative as the
urban centres are the engine of economic growth.
“Today we all are well aware that urbanisation in Nagaland
is growing at a very rapid pace in term of population agglomeration in cities
and towns of the state.
“During the census 2011 count, Nagaland urban population was
at 28.86 percent with growth rate of 66.70 percent recording the highest growth
rate at the national level,” the chief minister said.
Rio was speaking during the inaugural programme of the
upgraded Dimapur Town Hall here at Naga Shopping Arcade.
As per the World Bank studies, he said that the world is
expected to host 68 percent of the urban population by the year 2050 and that
the urban population of India is projected to surpass the rural population by
the year 2050, with 60 percent urban inhabitants.
The massive transition from rural to urban in Nagaland and
especially Dimapur, being one of the oldest urban business hubs of the state,
is characterised by a heterogeneous population with agglomeration settlements
of villages and towns surrounding its immediate neighbourhood, Rio said.
Besides, all other districts of the state depend on Dimapur
for services of railways, roadways and the nearby airport in Chümoukedima
district.
“The infrastructure availability and accessibility of Dimapur
is not only important for its citizens but also for all citizens of the state.
“Infrastructure itself is the backbone of economic growth.
This economic growth for urban habitats is rooted at respective Urban Local
Bodies (ULBS). The improved access to basic services is direct boost to a
city's economy,” the chief minister said.
Rio also acknowledged that through public support, the state
government had successfully facilitated the conduct of ULB election 2024 in 25
urban local bodies across the state.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “We must invest in
resilient infrastructure today for a better tomorrow,” he assured that the
state government is fully committed to building resilient infrastructure for
both urban and rural areas alike.
He also noted that for so many decades, it has been observed
that the decency of maintaining public assets created by forerunners was
neither maintained nor upgraded to their optimum usage.
“The idea of up gradations, retrofitting and vertical
developments are becoming more befitting projects in a populous settlement
/areas where land availability is constrained.
“So much so is the location of Dimapur Town Hall. It is
located in a prime location of Dimapur, strategically located where it is
easily accessible for the citizens of Dimapur Municipal Council as well as its
neighbouring population,” the chief minister said.
Rio went on to state that the constitution of Development
Authority Nagaland (DAN) in 1976 was conceived with the vision and the
importance of the all-round development of the citizens, including physical,
mental and artistic development.
“One of the great responsibilities of public sector office
manager is to wisely manage the assets and continue to create value to it. The
responsibility of the public general in the upkeep of the public assets through
proper civic sense conduct is also important.
“However, more importantly is the efficient and transparent
management of public asset manager and his/her accountability,” he added.
Advisor of Tribal Affairs and Elections, H Tovihoto Ayemi,
who also spoke on the occasion, mentioned that the first foundation stone of
Dimapur Town Hall was laid by former Chief Minister SC Jamir in 1986.
But over the years, the condition of the building gradually
depleted, forcing the authorities to shut it down totally.
Ayemi thanked the chief minister for his concern for the
development and welfare of Dimapur and restoring the landmark town hall.
Superintending Engineer of DAN, Mhonlumo Ngullie, said that
the project ‘Renovation and modernisation of Town Hall, Dimapur’ was executed
under the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode and the total
project cost, as per the detailed project report (DPR), was INR 19.9 crore.
The work order was issued on June 3, 2023, and the project
was completed on December 10, 2024. The hall has a seating capacity of 374
people, Ngullie said.
