Guwahati-Tura-Shillong flight may become operational
SHILLONG: Purbayan Airlines has expressed its willingness to operate the Guwahati-Tura-Shillong flight service.
The Self Help Group base in Assam has approached the State Government on this matter and if the idea materializes it would give a new lease of life to Baljek Airport which has remained a non-starter ever since it was inaugurated.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said that the Commissioner and Secretary, Transport department, had written to him on the feasibility of the services. “We have told in our submission that the service is feasible,” Bakshi said. It may be mentioned that the District Administration of West Garo Hills, earlier this year, handed over the Baljek Airport to the State Transport department for its future development.
The District Administration has acquired 58 acres of land for the expansion of the Airport at a budget of around Rs. 2.59 crore.
However, there is a stretch of land which is under litigation as two Nokma are claiming that the stretch of land belongs to them.
The expansion of Baljek Airport would pave way for landing of atleast 30-seater aircraft in the Airport, which has remained non-functional since the time it was inaugurated with much fanfare by Pratibha Patil, the then President of India, almost four years back.
The airport set up at Jengjal, around 33 km from Tura, was built at a cost of Rs 12.52 crore. It was inaugurated on October 23, 2008.