By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Authorities of the Shillong Airport at Umroi have stated that the State Government needs to take responsibility for creating the alternative road near the airport.
One half of the road belongs to San Shnong in Mawlai constituency and the other portion falls in Ri-Bhoi constituency including — Madan Mawkhar, Umrynjah, Umden Umsaitprah, Umden Mission and Umden Arka. These villages had alleged that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the State Government, through the PWD department, are forcefully trying to close down the road without the knowledge of these villages, thereby alienating the villagers from the rest of the district.
An official of AAI, while speaking to The Shillong Times, said that the Airport authorities cannot close the down the road as they have no jurisdiction to do so.
“It is the responsibility of the State Government and they have to look into the matter,” the official said while stating that the Airport authorities have also forwarded a letter to the State Government urging them to solve the entire matter amicably.
According to the official, the Airport authorities have also asked the Indian Oil Corporation to establish a refueling station at the Airport as it would cater to all the flights which would land in the airport in the coming days.
The Rangbah Shnongs of those villages had also alleged that payment for the land given by the village to the AAI is still pending and the so called ‘footpath’ that the AAI promised some time ago is yet to be completed.
Reacting to a query about the proposed Shillong-Delhi flight, the official said that no concrete proposal has been made by the State Government to the Indian Airlines which operate flight all over the country.
Last year, the State Government had handed over 224 acres to the AAI for expansion of the runway to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft at the Shillong Airport. This was done because of a felt-need to connect Shillong to Delhi by a direct flight.
It is learnt that the State Government has once again moved the Defence authorities to part with 32 acres of their land near the Airport for constructing an apron, where aircrafts can be parked when not in use.
A study is also going on at the Airport to install the Instrument Landing System (ILS) which would facilitate the landing of bigger aircraft.
The Airport authorities have also written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor to set up a nationalized bank near the airport.
The present length of the Shillong Airport is around 6000 feet and the proposed expansion work would increase the runway to 7500 feet.