Meghalaya High Court Asks State, AAI To Expeditiously Complete Inspection For Shillong Airport Expansion

The bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice B. Bhattacharjee urged the authorities to complete the necessary inspection for extending the runway at Umroi Airport within the next couple of months.

“It is submitted by the Airports Authority of India that a cost estimate for carrying out the feasibility of extending the runway at Umroi Airport has been submitted to the State and the State is yet to respond. It is hoped that the AAI and the State work out the modalities and complete the necessary inspection within the next couple of months”, the court recorded.

Earlier, on August 10, AAI had submitted plans for a sophisticated LiDAR (light detection and ranging) survey in collaboration with the State and the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. It had stated that the survey aimed to assess the feasibility of extending the existing facilities at Umroi Airport, in order to accommodate wider-bodied aircraft and potentially transform it into an international airport.

The Court had welcomed the initiative and observed,

“Since this is a positive development and the State has made its intention clear, not only for one or more bigger airports, but also to be able to have an international airport within the State, it is hoped that all concerned explore the possibilities to ensure that with the latest technology an airport befitting the State, with international connections, may be available in Meghalaya”.

The court had also stressed that the goal must be to ensure that the latest technology is leveraged to establish an airport in Meghalaya with international connections, reducing the colossal loss incurred during travel between Guwahati and Shillong.

The matter has now been posted on February 2, 2024 for further review.

Case Title: Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya Vs State of Meghalaya & ors

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