DIMAPUR, Feb 8 � The Central Government wants to complete the Dimapur-Zuba rail project by 2015 while the new Greenfield Airport at Chiethu in Kohima is under plan but the date of completion is yet to be fixed.
An official bulletin stated that the Central Government has accorded priority to linking the capitals of Northeastern States to mainlines by rail, road and air routes.
Up to date, Kohima, the capital town of the State, is connected only by National Highways. The much anticipated railway link connecting Dimapur to Zubza continues to be embroiled in delays with the Railway Ministry still at the negotiating stage through Northeast Frontier Railways and the State Government over the �exorbitant� demands of affected landowners.
However, despite all obstacles, the Central Government is reported to be contemplating the completion of the project by March 2015.
On the other hand, sources said the proposed Chiethu Airport to air connect the State capital is slipping into a distant dream. As per the project report, a runway of about 2.2 kilometres in length is being proposed at a cost of about Rs 1,231 crore which includes other aspects of the complete project.
Official sources revealed that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has plans for the new Greenfield airport at Chiethu but said no dates have been given for likely completion.
Mention may be made here that the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2006 earmarked three proposed Greenfield airports for the North East � Itanagar, Gangtok and Kohima. While Itanagar Airport in Arunachal Pradesh is reportedly completed, Gangtok Pakyong Airport in Sikkim is likely to be completed by 2012. However, no progress is yet observed with regard to the Chiethu Airport in Kohima.
