Nagaland: Cancer Centre Project Yet To Be Completed In 13 Years After 40 Crores Already Spent.

Kohima; June 2026: More than 13 years have passed, after the Government of India approved the project in December 2013 under a national programme aimed at strengthening cancer care facilities across the country. The centre was originally expected to be completed by 2020 and become functional   in 2021. But, years beyond its original completion deadline, the Tertiary Care Cancer Centre (TCCC) at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima remains unfinished despite over Rs 40 crores having been spent on the project, according to documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The RTI response shows that while substantial funds have been released and key medical equipment has already been procured, the facility remains incomplete years after its original deadline, leaving many cancer patients dependent on treatment centres outside the state. According to the latest status report, overall civil construction stands at 86.36%.

Official records show that as per statistics of 2013 – the project carries a total cost of Rs. 43.50 crore, with the Centre contributing 90% and the State Government providing the remaining 10%. So far, Rs. 40.08 crore has been released, amounting to nearly 90% of the sanctioned project cost. Of this amount, Rs. 39 crores have been spent, leaving a balance of Rs. 01 crore.

Construction progress varies across different components of the project. Site clearance and land consolidation works have been completed, while drainage works stand at 85% completion. The radiotherapy bunker, one of the most critical structures in the facility, is approximately 72.5% complete while the main building has reached just over 74% completion, with finishing works such as doors, windows and interiors still pending.

Despite the delay in construction, several major pieces of cancer treatment equipment have already been procured. These include a Bhabhatron II cobalt radiotherapy machine, an RT simulator for imaging and an HDR brachytherapy unit.

The revised timeline now targets June 2026 for project completion and December 2026 for full operationalisation.

The project is being implemented by the Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima, while civil construction is being executed through the Development Authority of Nagaland. A private contractor has been engaged for the construction works.

Over the years, land dispute has been attributed the delay in the completion of TCCC, however, when asked for any official communication cited landownership or land-related disputes as reasons for delay, there was no response. It also noted that while periodic reviews have been conducted to monitor progress, no specific departmental inquiry or audit has been carried out solely to examine the prolonged delay.

Documents also reveal a significant gap between the manpower required for the facility and the personnel currently available, raising concerns over the centre’s readiness for full-scale operations.

According to the human resource requirement chart, the cancer centre requires a wide range of specialised doctors and technical staff while most of the sanctioned posts remain vacant.

Among the key specialist positions, the centre requires 06 Radiation Oncologists, but only 01 is currently in place. No Medical Oncologist, Surgical Oncologist, Head and Neck Oncologist, Gynae Oncologist or Patho Oncologist has been appointed so far, despite requirements ranging from 02 to 04 specialists in each category.

The document further shows that only 01 Paediatric Oncologist (against 03) and 01 Palliative Care Oncologist (against 02) are available. All 10 sanctioned posts for Medical Officers (MBBS) remain vacant, while the sole Psychiatrist position has also not been filled.

The shortage extends to technical and support staff crucial for cancer treatment services. While 01 Medical Physicist-cum-Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) is in place, only 02 Medical Physicists are available against a requirement of 06. The centre currently has no Dosimetrist and no Radiation Therapy Technicians or Technologists (RTTs), despite requiring 01 and 16 personnel respectively.

Overall, the data indicates that only 06 personnel are currently in position against a total requirement of 61 specialists and technical staff, leaving a shortfall of 55 posts. The RTI response also notes that the “requisition for manpower requirement is currently in progress”. However, the figures highlight the scale of recruitment needed before the cancer centre can function at its intended capacity.

Team Maverick.