SHILLONG: Even as the expansion of the Shillong Airport that would pave the way for private players to operate from it hangs in the balance, passengers have responded ‘exceptionally well’ to the lone flight operating from the airport.
Sources informed that 70-80 per cent of seats of the flight that operates from Shillong to Kolkata five days a week remain booked most of the time indicating that more passengers would like to take the aerial route if the number of flights are increased. But a controversy over pending land compensation has stalled the work for the expansion of the runway, making it near impossible to bring in private players to operate from the airport.
The North Eastern Council (NEC) too is unhappy with the level of efforts of the Meghalaya Government in handing over the land to the Council for the proposed expansion of the runway at the Shillong Airport in Umroi.
The NEC had written letters to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister to speed up the process of handing over 194 acres which was acquired by the State Government to extend the length of the runway to 7500 feet from the current 6000 feet.
The Council had also assured to initiate steps to sanction funds for the expansion of the runway as soon as the land was handed over. The land though still remains to be handed over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The present length of the runway only allows ATR aircraft to operate from the Airport.