In a press communique here last night, Press Secretary to Chief Minister Abu Metha, responding to certain unfounded allegations', stated that Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and the state government have repeatedly taken up the states multiple air connectivity problems with the Government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, calling upon them to intervene and improve air connectivity in Nagaland. Apart from writing letters to the Centre and the Ministry, the chief minister had also highlighted the problems of the state in this sector at various forums and in meetings with the Prime Minister and the Union Civil Aviation Minister, it said.
Informing of some of the recent actions taken by the state government, it said the Chief Minister, in a follow-up letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on March 22, 2006, had highlighted the lack of air connectivity in the state capital. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, in his letter, mentioned the urgent need of an airport at Kohima and urged upon the Ministry to expedite the matter, it said. On June 25, 2009, the Chief Minister, in an aide memoir to the Union Civil Aviation Minister, called for improving air-connectivity in Dimapur while reminding of an earlier request to introduce daily Airbus service connecting Dimapur to New Delhi touching Guwahati and vice versa.
The state government is hopeful that the Government will take appropriate measures to solve the problems and improve air connectivity in Nagaland, the communique added.