Not getting its due

As the premier commercial city of Nagaland, there are several things that need to be fixed in Dimapur , if it is to achieve any real progress so as to benefit the entire state. As the population grew at a fast pace from the late 80s, trade and commerce also expanded significantly. However, while population and trade grew immensely, the basic infrastructures available at Dimapur, consequently became inadequate to meet the growing demands. As with every growing cosmopolitan city, Dimapur needs sufficient power to drive business and industry, improved traffic management to reduce traffic congestion, planned construction, priority on disposal of garbage, an efficient drainage system, timely repair of roads, a common market for every three or four colonies, providing efficient civic services and maintenance of law and order to instil a sense of security and well being of the people and particularly, the business community. All these have not come up only recently but which have been there since decades. Increasing influx of migrants from within and beyond Nagaland into Dimapur, has severely challenged its capacity to maintain and manage. The state government and local authorities are responsible for promoting trade and commerce. However, the centre plays an indirect role for connectivity – air, rail and road- to supplement economic inlet and outlet. As the commercial capital of Nagaland, Dimapur has the state’s only airport and railway station. There are two national highways connecting Dimapur from Assam(national highway 129 from Numaligarh-Bokajan and national highway 29 from Nagaon-Dillai). Two travel connecting points- air and rail- at Dimapur are still in need of urgent attention from the Centre and in this, the state government needs to focus more attention. Dimapur airport is among the oldest airports in the region but way behind others in the region. Dimapur railway station was opened in 1903 and known then as Manipur cabin. Dimapur railway station has not experienced any major development except some window dressing and initial introduction of three trains to fulfil the long felt need of passengers. However, the three trains introduced at Dimapur- Jan Shatabi(1996) by then railway minister Ram Vilas Paswan was extended to Furkating and finally to Jorhat. That meant reduced seats and also stoppage time(7 minutes). Again in 1998, the B.G.Express was introduced between Kamakhya(Guwahati)-Dimapur-Kamakhya but when it was extended to Mariani in 2020, Dimapur got deprived. So also the much touted Nagaland Express introduced at Dimapur in 2011. This train was extended to Ledo in 2020 and deprived Dimapur of the benefits. Dimapur caters to around 10,000 passengers travelling daily to and from Dimapur and also earns second highest revenue after Guwahati railway station under the Northeast Frontier Railways(NFR). Revenue earning is undoubtedly a criteria, which makes it mandatory on the part of NFR to add more trains for the benefit of passengers. Instead, NFR has been shifting trains from DImapur to Assam. In 2020 there were fears about mass train travellers posing risks during covid pandemic so the two trains were temporarily extended to Assam. However after the pandemic was lifted, there is no sign that NFR is willing to redeploy then to Dimapur. Encroachment is a perennial problem against project development in Nagaland but this cannot be the reason for shifting trains to other stations. The state government has to impress upon NFR to redress these problems without delay or excuses.