Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has allocated ₹ 15.5 crore in the budget for improving air connectivity in the State.
Stating that the improved air connectivity is one of the big triggers for economic growth of Meghalaya, Chief Minister Sangma said, “The Baljek airport will be made operational soon with direct flight connectivity between Shillong and Tura.”
Talking to reporters at the Post budget press Conference, the Chief Minister said the state Government is looking for smaller aircraft for making the Baljek airport operational, which he expects by this coming financial year.
“We are working and discussing with different service providers to give us smaller aircrafts, so 19-20-25 seats aircrafts…. what we are looking at and then we will go into an agreement once we are able to identify,” Sangma said.
He also informed that there is a need to infrastructural improvements for making the first airport of Garo Hills operational.
“I hope within this coming financial year we should be able to make it operational,” he added
The Chief Minister also informed that Heliports will also be built at Shillong and Tura to further enhance air connectivity.