Shillong, June 15 (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio on Monday extended invitation to industry leaders to invest in the State while highlighting the transformative potential of the Trans-Nagaland Highway, a proposed Greenfield airport for Kohima, and a new planned city.
Speaking at the two-day North East India Infrastructure Summit and Exhibition (NEIINFRA) 2026 Summit, inaugurated by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari at the Lariti International Centre for Performing Arts and Culture, Shillong Dr Rio underscored that connectivity for Nagaland was “not merely an infrastructure issue but a development imperative.”
“While Nagaland is among the oldest states in the Northeast, its development trajectory has been constrained by unique geographical, historical and structural challenges. Infrastructure remains central to accelerating growth and improving service delivery,” the CM said.
Dr Rio placed special emphasis on the Trans-Nagaland Highway, also referred to as the Foothill Road, describing it as a corridor capable of connecting seven districts and over 100 towns and villages across the state.
He said the highway would unlock access to agriculture, horticulture and mineral-rich areas, and create conditions for industrial growth, logistics hubs, tourism development and private sector investment.
The CM also linked the proposed highway to a recently signed MoU between the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Assam Government for petroleum exploration and development activities in the region, noting that much of the prospective resource belt runs along the proposed Foothill Road. “Robust transport infrastructure will be important to fully realise its economic potential,” he said.
The CM highlighted several flagship infrastructure proposals for Nagaland, including the Ciethu Greenfield Airport for Kohima, the planned Nagaki City in Chümoukedima district, and a state proposal for an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT).
He drew attention to a structural challenge unique to Nagaland, its community-based land ownership system, under which most land is community-owned and protected under Article 371A of the Constitution.
While acknowledging that these constitutional safeguards are crucial, he said a balance must be struck to address the challenges of land acquisition, infrastructure development and investment essential to the state's growth.
The CM used the summit to invite development partners and industry leaders “to come and invest in the State of Nagaland” and support the state in the development journey towards Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
The NEIINFRA 2026 summit, being held from June 15 to 16, has brought together policymakers, industry leaders, infrastructure experts, public sector agencies, private infrastructure companies, investors and development partners from across the country to deliberate on emerging opportunities and future infrastructure projects in the Northeast.
The event was also attended by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, along with senior government officials and representatives from development organisations.
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