The status of modernization of Dimapur Railway Station was discussed during the Eighth Session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly at NLA Hall, Kohima on 9th March 2026 with members highlighting land issues and the need for an amicable settlement to facilitate the project.
Initiating the discussion, MLA Nuklutoshi said there had been negligence from various stakeholders and questioned why the Northeast Frontier Railway remained silent for many years without lodging any complaint when illegal constructions were coming up on railway land.
He said that three possible options remain at present - payment of compensation for resettlement of the settlers, forceful eviction, or shifting the railway station to a new location.
Replying to the discussion, Minister for Health & Family Welfare P. Pawang Konyak informed the House that the central government has allocated ₹283 crore for modernization of Dimapur Railway Station. He said the station remains the second highest revenue-earning railway station in the Northeast region.
Konyak further said that both the concerned department and the landowners have written to the Ministry of Railways seeking compensation, and they are currently awaiting a response from the ministry.
Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio stressed the need for an amicable settlement of land issues surrounding the historic station, emphasizing that the state cannot afford to lose the opportunity to develop and expand the crucial rail hub.
Speaking on the issue, Rio said that Dimapur Railway Station, inaugurated in 1903, is over 120 years old and predates the formation of Nagaland as a state in 1963. At that time, he noted, certain constitutional provisions relating to land ownership in the state did not exist, and railway authorities had occupied and measured the land for railway purposes long before the state came into being.
The Chief Minister observed that over the years, while railway authorities remained largely silent, encroachments gradually increased. He also noted that administrative authorities had regularized some of these encroachments over time, which has further complicated the present situation.
Rio stressed that constructive dialogue between the state government and Indian Railways is necessary to find an amicable solution, particularly regarding compensation or other arrangements for landowners. However, he cautioned that compensation demands should not be at excessively high rates.
While railway expansion projects toward Kohima and other areas are underway, he noted that those stations would be comparatively smaller and Dimapur would continue to serve as the main railway station for the state.
 
(DPRO Kohima)