By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: In what may provide a big boost to the Shillong Airport at Umroi, the State Government has decided to waive off sales tax on aviation turbine fuel to attract private airline operators to add the Airport in their route maps.
The decision was taken during a meeting between Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials and Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Friday, an AAI official informed.
The AAI officials had called on the Chief Minister to submit details of the developmental works undertaken at the Airport, which is the only one functional in the State.
Earlier, the Airport upgradation work was hit by a major roadblock after the AAI suggested that installation of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Airport was not feasible due to certain obstacles along the path of the runway.
However, a final decision in this regard will be taken when AAI officials from New Delhi would visit the Shillong Airport next week for a spot inspection of the obstructions which were affecting the ILS installation.
Presently, only one flight operates from the Airport to Kolkata and back. There is a growing demand for early upgradation of the Airport so that a direct Delhi-Shillong flight may be introduced keeping in mind the number of passengers who fly to the national capital from Shillong.