DIMAPUR: Lok Sabha member S Supongmeren Jamir has sought intervention by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to secure the transfer of 129.68 acres currently occupied by the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School (ARTC&S) at 3rd Mile, Chümoukedima, to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The move, the MP says, is necessary for Dimapur Airport's proposed expansion beyond its Phase‑I requirements.
What the representation says
In a written representation addressed to the Home Minister and submitted in his capacity as Chairman of the Airport Advisory Committee, Dimapur Airport, Jamir referred to earlier land transfers and recent verification reports to press for release of the remaining acreage. Documents cited in the representation show that 392.72 acres of Dimapur airfield land were handed over to the National Airports Authority (now AAI) by the Defence Estates Officer, Jorhat Circle, in 1987. Subsequent official correspondence and entries in the Military Land Register, the MP said, reaffirm the transfer.
The representation also relied on a Joint Survey‑cum‑Verification Report dated February 29, 2024, which identified 148.58 acres as being under ARTC&S occupation. Of that area, 18.8 acres were formally handed over to the AAI on May 8, 2026, in a tripartite handover involving AAI, Assam Rifles and the State administration. Jamir has asked the Home Ministry to facilitate transfer of the balance 129.68 acres to AAI.
| Item | Area (acres) |
|---|---|
| Land originally handed to National Airports Authority (1987) | 392.72 |
| Area under ARTC&S occupation (Joint Survey, 29 Feb 2024) | 148.58 |
| Area handed over to AAI (8 May 2026) | 18.8 |
| Area requested for transfer to AAI | 129.68 |
Why the land matters
According to the MP's submission, AAI has already prepared and submitted master plans (labelled Master Plans 1 and 2) to the Nagaland government outlining proposals that include a new terminal building and additional aircraft parking bays. Jamir argued that current land constraints are limiting developments envisaged in those plans and may have consequences for the airport's infrastructure, safety and operational capacity.
Local stakeholders and the State administration have for years highlighted land availability as a key bottleneck for augmenting operations at Nagaland's only airport. While Phase‑I works have proceeded on areas already transferred, further expansion — including larger passenger facilities and more parking bays to handle increased air traffic — would require additional contiguous land parcels.
Process and actors involved
The matter involves several agencies: the Assam Rifles as the current occupant of the contested parcels; the Defence Estates Officer (Jorhat Circle), which documented the 1987 transfer to the airports authority; the AAI, which is the statutory agency responsible for airport development; and both the State and Union governments, which must coordinate before any transfer of defence land for civilian use.
- Legal/administrative history: Documents cited by the MP point to an earlier handover in 1987 and entries in the Military Land Register.
- Recent verification: A joint survey in February 2024 mapped ARTC&S occupation at 148.58 acres.
- Partial handover: 18.8 acres were released to AAI on 8 May 2026 for Phase‑I works.
Implications and next steps
If the Home Ministry agrees to the transfer request, AAI could proceed with plans that require larger land parcels, potentially allowing for a new terminal and additional aircraft stands. Such development would be expected to improve passenger handling capacity and could support increased flight frequencies and larger aircraft, subject to regulatory clearances and funding.
Any decision will need coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs, Defence/Assam Rifles, the AAI and the Nagaland government. Transfers of defence‑occupied land for civilian infrastructure typically follow procedural clearances, security assessments and inter‑departmental approvals.
The representation by Jamir places the matter before the Union Home Ministry; no official response to the request has been reported yet. Local officials and the AAI will likely await central clearance before publishing revised timelines for further airport works.
Dimapur Airport's expansion is viewed locally as central to improving air connectivity for Nagaland and as a potential driver for economic activity in the State. The outcome of the present request will determine whether plans can advance beyond the limited gains made under Phase‑I.
