By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: It took four years for a security official from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to visit Baljek Airport to assess the security preparedness and also to study its operational viability.
Dilip Kumar, Deputy General Manager, Security, Airport Authority of India recently visited Baljek airport to review the security in and around the airport.
It was with much fan fare the airport was inaugurated in October 23,2008 by the then president of India, Prathibha Patil in the presence of PA Sangma when the NCP-UDP-led MPA government was in power in the State.
Four years after the inauguration of Baljek Airport, constructed at the cost of Rs 12.54 crore , there are no early signs of operations of flight from Garo Hills due to various hurdles including concerns over the security of the airport.
The West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said on Sunday that on October 26, Capt. Dilip Kumar along with the State Government officials visited the airport and the assessed the security aspect and the operational viability.
The airport official found that lack of adequate police personnel to man the Baljek airport is one of the obstacles which stand in the way of early start of the flights from the airport.
The official also wanted to know from the West Garo Hills district administration on the viability of starting flights from Baljek.
After visiting Baljek, Kumar also met the police officials and the officers of West Garo Hills district administration.
The official suggested the need to have a security team consisting of at least 70 Meghalaya police personnel who are well trained in anti-hijacking techniques, the Deputy Commissioner said.
The airport official made it clear that the security in the airport is paramount importance and police personnel to be appointed at the airport should not be shifted to other areas for duty.
The official also asked the police in West Garo Hills to carry out a feasibility study as far as security of the airport is concerned. On the questions related to air traffic flow, the West Garo Hills district administration assured the official that there will be regular traffic flow once the airport is made operational. The Meghalaya Government officials also suggested the need to have cargo planes as the horticulture products among others from several parts of Garo Hills can be exported to several destinations.
The inauguration of the airport remained just symbolic as no aircraft landed after the its formal inauguration four years ago. Other than a 20- seater Dornier aircraft landing at the Baljek airport on the day of the inauguration, the airport remained non-functional.
Instead of bringing in 20 seater aircraft which was originally planned , the Government thought of extending the runway of Baljek airport so that 50 seater aircraft can land.
The Government is also planning to acquire more land to expand the runway of the airport to facilitate the landing of bigger planes and for this, land acquisition process has already begun.