Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has urged the Central government to extend greater support for the state’s development, calling for renewed focus on infrastructure, education, and connectivity to ensure equitable growth.
Speaking at the 22nd Annual Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-III Conference at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Rio appealed for the establishment of an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Nagaland — a project first announced in the 2015–16 Union Budget but never implemented. He said 200 acres of land have already been earmarked for the institute at Sukhovi near Dimapur Airport.
The Chief Minister also sought an upgrade of the Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR) into an AIIMS-like institution to enhance healthcare access for people in Nagaland and adjoining states.
Highlighting the state’s limited rail infrastructure, Rio pointed out that Nagaland currently has only eight kilometres of operational railway line. He urged the Centre to expedite the Dimapur–Tizit railway project, which will link Wokha, Mokokchung, Longleng, and Mon districts. Additionally, he called for a review of the shelved Ciethu Greenfield Airport project in Kohima, stressing that improved air connectivity is essential for the state’s economic growth.
Rio expressed disappointment that despite Nagaland’s natural wealth — including deposits of cobalt, nickel, natural gas, and petroleum — the state remains resource-constrained due to pending legal issues surrounding oil exploration. He also underlined the absence of premier national institutions like IITs and National Law Universities, saying their establishment would promote research and help retain local talent.
Raising concern over the re-imposition of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) in December 2024 for Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, Rio said the move has deterred investment and slowed development. “It is imperative that special consideration be accorded to Nagaland in terms of infrastructure, connectivity, education, and institutional development,” he said. “Equal opportunities are vital for the state’s meaningful participation in national progress.”
Recalling the evolution of the North Eastern Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (NERCPA), Rio noted that it was formed in 1996 under the leadership of Late P. A. Sangma and renamed CPA India Region Zone-III in 2018. He added that Nagaland has played a leading role in fostering regional parliamentary cooperation, hosting the first NERCPA Conference in 1997 and the 10th in 2007.
The Chief Minister commended the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and CPA Zone-III organisers for successfully hosting the event and expressed confidence that the deliberations would help strengthen democracy and collaboration among Northeastern states.
