Shillong, September 23: Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Transport, Sniawbhalang Dhar, conducted an inspection of the Shillong Airport on Monday as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to expand the facility.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Dhar emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the airport’s capacity. “The government is very serious about expanding the airport,” he stated.
Dhar disclosed that the second report from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) indicated a viable possibility of extending the airport’s runway. However, certain issues must be addressed with the central government before moving forward. “The possibility is there, but we need to resolve specific issues with the Government of India. These relate to guidelines for which we will seek exemptions, allowing us to accommodate larger aircraft at Shillong airport,” Dhar explained.
When asked about the potential impact of not securing the exemption, Dhar cautioned that the costs would become prohibitively high. “If the exemption is not granted, the costs could be overwhelming. With the exemption, we could expand the airport within a few years,” he noted.
Dhar highlighted that the government aims to avoid significant geographical challenges like hillocks, allowing for a more efficient extension of the runway. “We plan to extend the runway by 900 meters within our existing land. If we have to clear the hillocks, it could cost over Rs 8,000 crores. That’s why we will request exemptions from certain guidelines from the central government to facilitate this expansion,” he said.
In addition to the runway expansion, Dhar revealed that the government will need to acquire 22 additional acres of land—16 acres for safety purposes and 6 acres for parking bays to accommodate larger aircraft. “We will be having a cabinet meeting the day after tomorrow to approve this proposal, and we will proceed with the Government of India,” Dhar confirmed.
He added that the expansion project is estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore, with the AAI funding the majority of the work, while the state government will bear the cost of land acquisition.
“If everything proceeds as planned, the airport will become a 24/7 operational facility, potentially creating 300 to 400 jobs, both directly and indirectly,” Dhar concluded.