The Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Tuesday saw the introduction of two crucial bills aimed at improving urban planning and reinforcing the state’s investment framework. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tabled the Nagaland Town and Country Planning (Fourth Amendment) Bill, 2025, while Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang presented the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (Validation) Bill, 2025. Chief Minister Rio explained that the proposed amendment to the Nagaland Town and Country Planning Act seeks to formalize an ordinance into law, introducing two key new chapters. These additions focus on structured town planning schemes and the development of peri-urban areas, which are transitional zones between urban and rural regions.
“The town planning scheme will follow a collaborative approach, allowing landowners to pool their plots for systematic development,” Rio stated. He emphasized that this will facilitate the creation of organized layouts, ensuring the integration of essential public amenities like roads, schools, hospitals, and parks. The bill also stresses the importance of notifying peri-urban areas and developing master plans to guide their orderly expansion.Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Zeliang addressed the need to validate the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), which was originally established through a government notification on June 25, 2018. However, since this notification was never formally tabled in the Assembly, concerns were raised regarding IDAN’s legal standing. “This validation bill is necessary to legitimize IDAN’s role as the state’s primary investment promotion agency,” Zeliang stated.
Speaker Sharingain Longkumer confirmed that both bills would be discussed and put to vote during the Assembly session on Thursday. If passed, these legislations are expected to bring significant improvements in urban planning and strengthen Nagaland’s investment ecosystem, providing a legal framework for sustainable development and economic growth.
