By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: It has been over a year since the State Government handed over land to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for expansion of the Shillong airport, yet nothing has materialized so far with regards to the expansion project.
The present length of the runway at the Shillong Airport is 6000 feet. The State Government had handed over 192 acres of land to expand the runway to 7500 feet so as to facilitate landing and takeoff for bigger aircraft.
However, neither the construction of the runway nor any other infrastructure development has started at the Airport.
Sources from the AAI said that the agency had forwarded two proposals to the Centre regarding expansion of the airport infrastructure.
One proposal of Rs 28.45 crore for upgradation of the Shillong Airport was approved by the Planning Commission, while the other proposal estimated at Rs 155 crore has not been approved as yet, AAI sources said.
The Rs 155-crore proposal includes construction of apron (parking space for aircraft) besides other internal facilities at the Airport.
“We had submitted the proposal to the North Eastern Council (NEC) but we don’t know the current whereabouts of the proposal,” sources from the AAI said.
Though 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 besides continuously appraising the Central Aviation Ministry to make the airport functional, nothing concrete has materialized in terms of infrastructure which would draw major airline companies to operate from the Airport.
Presently, one ATR 48 aircraft is operating from the Airport.
Besides, the Union Ministry of Defence is still examining the proposal of the State Government which has sought 32 acres of land belonging to the Umroi Army Cantonment for expansion of the Airport.
The matter of installation of the Advance Landing System (ALS) is also pending with the Director General of Civil Aviation which is a must for making the Airport operational for bigger aircraft.