By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 15: The Shillong Airport runway expansion project is on track despite its complexity, involving multiple stakeholders, regulatory approvals, and land-related challenges.
Revealing this, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said that issues raised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), mainly related to flight safety and the safety of residents near the airport, are being addressed and will not delay the project.
He said that the expansion, aimed at enhancing air connectivity and facilitating the operations of larger aircraft, is expected to be completed by 2027, as originally planned. “Minor issues, including land-related concerns flagged by the DGCA, keep coming up, but we are addressing them while ensuring construction continues,” Sangma told reporters.
Describing the project as more complex than a routine infrastructure initiative, he said it requires coordination among multiple agencies and levels of government. Sangma said additional land issues identified by the DGCA are being resolved, adding that construction will soon progress at full pace.
“Once pending approvals and land matters are cleared, work will begin in full swing. A slight deviation of a few months is possible, but larger aircraft should be able to operate by 2027,” he said.
He stated that the runway expansion is a crucial component of the state’s efforts to enhance air connectivity, tourism, trade, and overall economic growth.
Despite the challenges, Sangma said he is confident the project will move smoothly from this stage onward and meet the targeted timeline.
“If we focus on the current issues, I am confident we can meet the 2027 timeline for larger aircraft operations,” he said, underscoring the government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and connectivity in the region.
