Boost to state aviation as Airports Authority terms expansion “achievable”
SHILLONG, Sept 26: Giving a major boost to aviation expansion in the state, the Meghalaya government on Wednesday cleared the much-delayed proposal to acquire additional land for expansion of the two airports in the state – Shillong’s Umroi Airport and Baljek Airport in Garo Hills.
It comes a day after the Airports Authority of India informed the High Court of Meghalaya that plans for expansion of the Umroi airport were achievable, while state chief minister Conrad K Sangma told presspersons, post a cabinet meeting, that bigger commercial planes would land and take off once the runway expansion is completed.
The state government is to move the Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA for necessary permission following the latest survey report indicating the feasibility for expansion of the Shillong Airport for landing of bigger aircrafts.
Informing this after chairing the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “Today’s cabinet has given the approval to go ahead and start the process (of land acquisition for the Shillong Airport).”
Seeking cooperation from all stakeholders, Sangma said, “What is important to note is that this project will be a big game changer for our state. I think everyone who is part of this must realise how important this project is for Meghalaya and for the tourism sector and what potential this has to change the entire landscape of the economy and tourism sector of our state. Hence, this is something which we must all work together to get through.”
Referring to a detailed presentation by the transport department, the chief minister said, “The survey and technical report that was done along with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) was feasible. We should be able to extend the runway so that normal commercial flights (like A320 and Boeing 373) can land in the existing airport.”
He said the next step is to sit with DGCA and present the proposal.
“Earlier, we really didn’t know how to move forward as the old studies were showing a very complicated situation before us. But now, this new study has brought a way forward and I am hopeful we will be able to find a solution,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had informed the Meghalaya High Court that the expansion of the Shillong Airport’s runway by 571 meter can be achieved within a cost of Rs 100 crore by the state government, excluding other costs that will be borne by the AAI in the improvement which will be to the tune of Rs 500 crore.
AAI general manager Dr Gursewak Manish had also explained that by the LiDAR survey, a comprehensive survey of the entire Airport including all the requirements had been conducted.
“With regard to the earth cutting required for expansion of the runway by 571 meters, it has been stated that if the proposal is accepted and passed by the State Government and by the Regulatory Authority, which is the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA ), the same can be achieved within a cost of Rs 100 crore by the State Government, excluding other costs that will be borne by the AAI in the improvement which will be to the tune of Rs 500 crore,” it was noted in court.
Terming the survey report as reasonable and doable, chief minister said, “It has given us a roadmap. (Unlike the previous reports), definitely, it will not be where we have to chop off the mountains where it will cost us Rs 8,000 crore – that is something which is very difficult for us to take a decision on.”
Asked about the status of Baljek Airport, the chief minister said that discussion for land acquisition for Baljek Airport is also on.
“The land acquisition process, the identification by the revenue branch of the DC office is already in the process. They have done the initial report but the AAI was not at that point of time satisfied with that report so another detailed report is being prepared so both (Shillong and Baljek airport) are going hand in hand and we are keen that in both locations that flights should start.”
“In fact, the work for the Baljek airport started before the process for the Shillong Airport because for Umroi we were also looking for the option of a new location. We said that well why don’t we revisit this and see once more and invest a bit on a technical report and Maybe there could be an option that will come up where we will actually be able to bring larger aircrafts in the existing airport itself.
It was a chance we took and we are happy that this particular step we took has given us an option. We are happy with this and we are going ahead with Baljek Airport,” he added.
