SHILLONG, June 6: Transport Minister, Dasakhiatbha Lamare on Monday said some individuals submitted proposals in response to the expression of interest (EoI), floated by the state government, for land for a proposed greenfield airport in Ri-Bhoi or East Khasi Hills district.
He told reporters the government has extended the time for people to respond to the EoI. Through the EoI, the government invited applications from interested landowners for purchase/acquisition of unencumbered land for the airport.
The government requires a minimum of around 800 acres of land for the project, envisaged as the Shillong airport at Umroi is not feasible for the operation of bigger flights due to geographical challenges. Only ATRs are operating from here.
Stating that getting such a huge plot of land will be difficult, Lamare said it will take some time for the government to move ahead. He said once the government receives the applications, it will examine which piece of land is most feasible for the project.
The minister said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will back the state government on the aspect of funding.
Lamare said the Shillong airport will be used for some other purpose and will not go to waste. The ongoing infrastructure work at this airport will not stop as sanctions have been made for different projects, he said.
“We also have plans to connect Shillong with many other places and we are working on it,” the Minister added.
Greenfield airport is a term used to identify a new airport, built from scratch in a new location. Such airports are constructed to support the projected requirements of traffic of the existing airport.
Earlier, the AAI had submitted before the High Court of Meghalaya that it may not be possible to expand the Shillong airport or its runway to accommodate larger aircraft.
The state government had agreed that the cost involved in cutting hillocks near the airport may not yield commensurate benefit.
