By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 20: The state government is moving to revive the long-delayed expansion of the Shillong Airport, with Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar confirming on Thursday that a new tender is being readied after the previous one was withdrawn due to procedural complications.
He indicated that once the tender is awarded, work is expected to begin within the year. Dhar explained that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has laid down a firm condition: the contractor selected through the new tender will have a maximum of 18 months from the date of the work order to complete the entire project.
The expansion blueprint, pegged at Rs 119.44 crore, envisions extending the runway by 571 metres to reach a total length of 2,400 metres, besides upgrading the terminal, apron and accompanying infrastructure to make the airport capable of handling A320 aircraft.
To facilitate this work, the government has already cleared the acquisition of 11.75 acres of land, for which compensation of Rs 72.17 crore has been sanctioned.
Turning to Baljek Airport, Dhar noted that progress hinges on a pending joint survey by the Meghalaya government and AAI. He said the state is awaiting technical guidance from AAI experts to determine the precise land requirement, emphasising that finances are not an obstacle, but clear expert inputs are essential before any acquisition can begin.
It may be reminded that recently VPP MP Ricky AJ Syngkon, who chairs the Airport Advisory Committee, voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s engagement on airport matters. He pointed out that a recent meeting of the committee was held without the presence of any state representative, leaving members with no update on the most crucial element of the expansion—land acquisition.
Syngkon conveyed that the absence of state officials has left the committee unable to verify whether the land required for the Shillong Airport project has been handed over to AAI, remarking that no expansion work can move forward until this basic clarity is established.
