Nagaland: CM Rio seeks Centre's support for key infrastructure projects at NITI Aayog meet
Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio highlighted the state's developmental achievements, governance reforms and infrastructure priorities at the 11th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on Thursday.
Addressing the meeting, Rio reaffirmed Nagaland's commitment to the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047 and sought fiscal assistance and support for several key infrastructure projects.
These included the Foothill Road (Trans-Nagaland Highway), a Greenfield airport at Ciethu, establishment of IIT and AIIMS in Nagaland, development of Nagaki City, railway expansion projects, resumption of oil and natural gas exploration, inland waterways development, urban flyovers, promotion of agarwood cultivation and strengthening of power transmission infrastructure.
Rio said Nagaland has continued to make significant progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-5, where the state has emerged as a national leader. He also noted that Mokokchung, Kohima and Dimapur were ranked among the top 10 districts in the Northeast District SDG Index 2.0.
Highlighting governance reforms, Rio said the state has adopted an SDG-linked budget architecture, a gender budget statement and an outcome budgeting framework to strengthen transparency, accountability and evidence-based planning.
On women-led development, he highlighted initiatives such as the Innovation Seed Fund for Nano Women Entrepreneurs and the introduction of Pink Scooty taxis. He also outlined measures under the Nagaland Strategic Water Resilience Initiative, expansion of bamboo-based value chains and programmes promoting the green economy.
Emphasising youth empowerment, Rio highlighted the Nagaland Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Mission, Nagaland Apprenticeship and Placement Exchange, Chief Minister's STEM Incentive Programme, Academic Excellence Corpus and Open Learning Support Scheme.
He also highlighted ongoing fiscal reforms, including the modernisation of land revenue systems, implementation of e-Stamping, rollout of e-GRAS digital revenue platforms and the establishment of a Revenue and Development Fund Mobilisation Cell.