Shillong, Sept 25: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma informed today that the Shillong Airport runway is set to be expanded by over 500 meters, enabling the airport to handle larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, commonly used by airlines like IndiGo and SpiceJet.
“We’ve come up with a few options where, within the existing airport itself, we can extend the runway to make it feasible for larger commercial aircraft,” Sangma told media after a cabinet meeting. He clarified that the extension would allow planes with 170 to 180 seats to land, significantly improving the airport’s capacity.
This follows a detailed survey, initiated by the state government in coordination with the Airports Authority of India, which examined around 20 square kilometers of land surrounding the airport. Sangma stated that earlier feasibility studies had posed significant challenges, making expansion appear difficult. However, the new survey has shown promising results.
“The initial report from the Transport Department is very encouraging and positive,” he said, adding, “We are now on the right track. The runway extension is still in the planning stage, but we’re hopeful that we can move forward quickly.”
The Chief Minister highlighted that several key clearances, including those from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, are still required. “There are certain permissions needed, but we’re working on it. It’s a positive development, and we’re quite hopeful.”
Sangma assured that the expansion would not require drastic measures like cutting through mountains, which was considered in previous plans and deemed highly expensive. “We no longer need to chop off mountains, which would have cost around ₹8,000 crore,” he noted. “Instead, we’ll focus on a more practical and doable solution with minimal land acquisition and basic construction work.”
While a detailed cost estimate is not yet available, Sangma stressed that the project is now moving in a manageable direction. “The steps needed for the runway extension are realistic and feasible. It will take some time, but we are confident that we are heading in the right direction.”