SHILLONG, Sep 24: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Tuesday told the High Court of Meghalaya that the Umroi Airport expansion project could be implemented at a cost of Rs 600 crore.
On Monday, Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar had pegged the cost at around Rs 8,000 crore.
During the hearing of a PIL, AAI General Manager (Planning) Dr Gursewak Manish told the court that earth cutting as required for the expansion of the airport’s runway by 571 meters will entail a cost of Rs 100 crore while other costs for the airport’s improvement will be to the tune of Rs 500 crore that AAI will bear if the project is approved.
He explained that a comprehensive survey of the entire airport had been conducted by the LiDAR survey.
“With regard to the earth cutting as required for expansion of the runway by 571 meters, it has been stated that if the proposal is accepted and passed by the state government and by the Regulatory Authority that is the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the same can be achieved within a cost of Rs 100 crore by the state government, excluding other costs that will be borne by the AAI in the improvement which will be to the tune of Rs 500 crore,” a division bench of Chief Justice (Acting) HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh said in an order.
Advocate General Amit Kumar submitted that the proposal put forward before the court will be placed before the state Cabinet and a decision on it is likely to be given within a week.
Deputy Solicitor General of India N Mozika submitted that once an in-principle approval is obtained from the state government, then the AAI will go ahead with completing other requirements by submitting the proposal before the DGCA for other clearances.
The court posted the matter on October 10 for further orders and to await the decision of the Cabinet on the re-worked proposal.
