Kohima, Nagaland, March 7 (HBTV): The much-awaited redevelopment of the Dimapur Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme faces significant delays due to land encroachment and legal battles. During the supplementary question hour in the Nagaland legislative Assembly on Marcy 6, National People’s Party Legislator Nuklutoshi pressed the government on whether land deeds issued with illegal documents had been canceled and whether any eviction had taken place.

In response, Health and Family Welfare Minister P Paiwang Konyak revealed that INR 283 crore was allocated for the project in 2024, with work planned in two phases. However, 92 encroachers in phase-1 and 1,067 in phase-2, along with 40 pending court cases, have stalled progress. Konyak clarified that the land deeds remain valid due to ongoing litigation, and no eviction has been carried out as yet.

Expressing frustration over the stalled development work, Nuklutoshi suggested diverting the funds to Tuli if Dimapur’s project remains unfeasible. In defense, Konyak outlined past government efforts, including compensation discussions with Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) and a INR 132 crore land resettlement proposal that the NFR refused to fund. The minister warned that if the land issues persist, the project may lose its funding.

The debate extended to the Amguri-Tuli railway, with Bharatiya Janata Party legislator A Panjung Jamir urging for relocation of the Tuli station closer to town. Konyak confirmed that the NFR is willing to extend the railway by 10-12 km but requires the state to bear the INR 109.25 crore construction cost—something the government rejected due to financial constraints.

Further, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio acknowledged that land disputes continue to obstruct Nagaland’s development, lamenting the misuse of Article 371(A). He stressed the importance of upgrading Dimapur Railway Station as Nagaland’s only commercial hub and warned that strict measures might be necessary if there is a lack of public cooperation.

Rio also pushed for broader infrastructure development, including the foothill road, special economic zones, and the "Naga ki Global City" concept in Chathe valley. He urged Nagas to move beyond endless discussions and take action, stating, "We are a rich state, but we have decided to remain poor. Let us blame ourselves."