SHILLONG, March 27: Meghalaya has been conferred with the “Most Proactive State” award at the Wings India 2022 Awards under “Regional Connectivity Scheme-Priority Areas” for its initiatives in promoting connectivity under UDAN.
The award coincides with the decision of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to implement a series of infrastructure projects for the airport.
An official of the Shillong Airport said a new approach road from Shillong Bypass to the terminal building is in advanced consideration of the state government and the work may begin soon.
An expression of interest has been published for the provision of an ATM booth outside the terminal building.
“A tender has been also published for retail stores in the departure and the security hold areas,” the official said, adding provision for duty-paid liquor shops in the arrival hall is in progress.
In addition, the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation is exploring the provision of bus service to and fro the airport to the city. The official said beautification of the airport towards the city and at the arrival hall is in progress.
As traffic has increased manifold at the airport, several projects are being undertaken. These include construction of isolation bay, new ATC tower-cum-fire station, emergency access road from end and crash gates to the runway and expansion of apron (four parking bay instead of two).
The official said high-mast with LED floodlights for the upcoming apron area is being installed. Besides, the modification of threshold lights at the end of Runway 22 is also progressing.
The Shillong Airport, which remained defunct for years, is now witnessing a substantial growth in the number of passengers. From July 2021 till March 1 this year, it recorded the movement of 55,436 passengers and 126 flights.
Currently, the airport has one tea and snacks counter and one retail shop for passengers inside the terminal building.
Recently, napkin incinerators were installed at the ladies’ toilet in the terminal building. A plastic bottle crusher has been also installed in the terminal building to keep the surroundings clean. The airport was constructed in the mid-1960s and it became operational in the mid-1970s.
The construction of the terminal building was completed in all respects in May, 2010.
In September 2018, the AAI had upgraded infrastructure with the installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) to enable aircraft to land in poor/low visibility environments.
Before the commissioning of the ILS, flights could land at the airport only when the visibility was more than 5,000 meters but they can now land even if the visibility is 1,500 metres.
It is now an Instrument Flight Rules airport which was Visual Flight Rules airport prior to commissioning of the ILS. Cancellation/diversion/delay of flights is negligible now due to weather/visibility. After the commissioning of the ILS, it is now an all-weather airport with facilities for night landing and night parking bay.
The Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range system and the Distance Measuring Equipment were commissioned in December 2020.