Chief Minister, Dr. Neiphiu Rio highlighted a series of major infrastructure and development initiatives being undertaken by the government while delivering the Independence Day address at Nagaland Civil Secretariat Plaza on 15th August 2026.
Rio informed that the State Government has identified 39 sq. kms. at Chathe Valley, Chumoukedima District, for establishing a modern incubation city, Nagaki, to catalyse economic activities and provide opportunities to the young population. He said that a high-level Governing Council under his Chairmanship, along with the Deputy Chief Ministers and other Ministers and Advisors and the Chief Secretary has also been constituted. An amount of Rs. 100 cr. under SASCI has been received for the project.
On Connectivity, the Chief Minister said that the PWD (Roads & Bridges) has successfully completed 132.50 km of road and 6 Modular steel bridges under various State and Central Govt schemes in the last financial year. He also highlighted the key projects undertaken by PWD (NH), including the widening of the existing single-lane road to a two-lane highway from Unger to Tuli on NH-02, widening of the existing single-lane road to two lane from Longsa to New Wokha Village on NH-02 and widening of the existing single-lane road to an intermediate lane from Mokokchung (Chuchuyimpang Village) to Chare Town, across Mokokchung and Tuensang districts. In addition, the construction of the 4-lane Dimapur bypass road by NHIDCL has also been completed.
Dr. Rio said that the State Government is actively pursuing the development of 4 (four) short landing strips at strategic locations at Mokokchung, Mon, Tuensang and at Ciethu to boost intra-state air connectivity. He added that the government is also working towards development of inland waterways. LiDAR survey of Tizu-Zungki National Waterways has been proposed for a more detailed and comprehensive assessment of this waterway corridor. The development of three water bodies of our State; the Doyang Water Reservoir, Noune Lake and Shilloi Lake, for the purposes of promotion of tourism and water sports is currently underway, with the DPRs in the final stages of preparation, he added.
He noted that the signing of the Tripartite MOU between the Finance Department, TATA Company and Nagaland State Transport for 43 buses under deferred payment mechanism as a step towards facilitating and providing affordable and coordinated passenger bus services in the State.
The Chief Minister mentioned that the Industries & Commerce Department has signed an MoU with IIFT, Kolkata Campus, to establish an Export Facilitation Cell in Nagaland to enhance entrepreneurs' export readiness. The government has also approved the Nagaland Food Processing Industries Policy. Other initiatives included the inauguration of the Chief Minister's Yarn Bank at Toluvi, Dimapur, Food Processing Incubation Centres at Toluvi and Tuensang, an Entrepreneurs' Incubation Centre at Ganeshnagar, Chümoukedima, and a Modern Aggregation Centre at Longnak, Mokokchung.
Rio noted that a new 220/132/33 kV substation at Tsitrongse (Diezephe), funded under PM-DeVINE, is nearing completion. The ongoing Optical Ground Wire project will strengthen communication between EHV substations, generating stations and the State Load Dispatch Centre, Rio added. Under the Nagaland Solar Mission, in convergence with PM Surya Ghar, Muft Bijli Yojana, rooftop solar installations have reached a cumulative capacity of 1.32 MW. Power Department has also installed more than 57,300 smart meters, supporting improved billing, revenue collection and the State’s ₹400-crore revenue target for 2026-27.
Chief Minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio further highlighted the development of new and upgraded institutional and public infrastructure across the State. The Nagaland Institute of Transformation inaugurated under the Department of Planning & Transformation to design, facilitate and drive the State's development agenda by leveraging expertise from knowledge institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations among others. Under the Art & Culture department, the Nagaland Indigenous Tribes Cultural Resource Centre at Kohima, constructed under the NLCPR (MDoNER) scheme, was inaugurated while the Tagore Cultural Complex at Chümoukedima, constructed under the Tagore Cultural Complex Scheme of the Ministry of Culture, was also completed and inaugurated.
The Department of Information & Public Relations newly launched project Nagaland Integrated Information System (NIIS), a digital governance initiative aimed at integrating information and services into a unified, accessible platform for all citizens. It will function as a single source of information for all Government activities and enhance transparency, and operational efficiency.
District-level institutional infrastructure strengthened during the financial year 2025-26, with the construction and inauguration of the DC Office Complex at Shamator, ADC Office Complex at Akuluto, ADC Offices at Seyochung and Tamlu, and the SDO(C) Office at Ralan. Residential infrastructure for administrative officers has also been completed, including ADC Quarters at Chozuba, Tobu and Medziphema, and the EAC Quarter at Sungro.