By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Around eight thousand residents of Umroi will be benefitted if the Airport Authority of India (AAI) initiative to persuade the authorities to setup a bank and a post office near the airport succeeds.
As of now, the residents of the four villages near the Shillong airport have to travel around 15 kilometers for their basic banking and postal needs.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Monday, Senior Manager Air Traffic Control (ATC) Shillong Airport Kailash Pati Mandal said, ” If a bank and post office come up in the area, it will largely benefit the residents of the area apart from the passengers in the airport.”
It is learnt that the AAI official has written a letter to the Chief Post Master General, Meghalaya Circle to set up a post office and the department has also showed keen interest in the same.
According to Mandal, a letter has also been forwarded to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to setup a bank in or near the airport that will cater to the needs of the residents of the village as well as the passengers.
“I have even urged our MP Mr Vincent Pala and Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma to look into the matter,” Mandal added. The Shillong Airport at Umroi is yet to achieve a lot in terms of development for it to become a prominent airport of the North Eastern region since runways, ILS refueling station etc. do not exist here.
