SHILLONG: At a time when the State is apparently looking to improve connectivity to give a boost to tourism, its lone functional airport is struggling to go ahead with the developmental works thanks to the row over a village road.
Though the State Government had acquired land for the expansion of the Umroi airport, its expansion work remains stalled owing to the controversy over the village road.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, NEC Principal Secretary, Transport, PHK Singh said that the problem started after the villagers opposed the construction of the boundary wall.
“Then the State Government intervened and urged that 20 metres of land should be left for the village road which crosses through the airport,” Singh said adding that the NEC later agreed to part with 10 metres of land for the village road but not before insisting that a dual wall be constructed and vehicles be permitted to ply on the road with walls on both sides. But the move was opposed by the villagers on grounds that bigger vehicles would not be able to pass through the road.
“If the road comes up in tactical area it will create a lot of problems,” Singh said.
It may be mentioned that the terminal of the airport was inaugurated four years ago but since then no developmental work has taken place there due to land acquisition hurdles and the controversy over the road.
At a time when airports across the Eastern region are getting “International status” Shillong’s airport only has a 48-seater flight operating between Shillong and Kolkata and most passengers prefer to flock to Guwahati to catch their flights.
