Shillong, Jan 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said the Shillong Airport runway expansion project is progressing as planned, despite land and safety concerns flagged by aviation authorities.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma |
Speaking on the status of the project, Sangma said the expansion involves multiple stakeholders and complex issues, particularly related to land acquisition and flight safety. He acknowledged that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had raised concerns to ensure both aircraft safety and the protection of residents living near the airport area.
“Things are on track. It is a complicated issue requiring intervention at multiple levels, but we are overcoming the challenges,” the Chief Minister said. He added that while some new land-related issues were flagged after DGCA’s involvement, the government is actively working to resolve them.
Sangma emphasised that these issues would not delay the allotment of work for the runway expansion. “The expansion of the runway and the work to be allotted should not be delayed. Once that part is done, construction will start,” he said, adding that other pending concerns would be addressed simultaneously during the construction phase.
The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the overall timeline would remain largely unchanged. According to earlier projections, the upgraded runway would allow larger aircraft operations by 2027, significantly improving air connectivity for Meghalaya and the wider Northeast region.
“We had estimated that by February or March 2027 we should be able to start larger flights. There could be a few months’ variation, which is acceptable, but I am confident that we will meet the 2027 target,” Sangma said.
Once completed, the runway expansion at Shillong Airport is expected to enhance passenger capacity, improve safety standards and boost tourism, trade and economic activity in the state.
