Meghalaya High Court Urges AAI To Consider Starting Shillong-Bhopal Direct Flights As Judges Need To Attend National Judicial Academy

The Meghalaya High Court recently suggested that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) should consider establishing a direct flight between Shillong and Bhopal on Fridays and Sundays.

The Court also recommended that, in the national interest, the AAI should ensure the availability of connecting flights (non-direct flights) to Bhopal from major cities or states like Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Shillong on those days. This suggestion was prompted by the inconvenience faced by judges who frequently travel to Bhopal for activities at the National Judicial Academy. Due to the lack of direct flights, judges and officials are forced to take a longer route via Delhi after flying from Guwahati, resulting in increased travel time, fuel consumption, and costs. The court emphasized that since small aircraft carrying 96 passengers can fly from Shillong to Delhi, there should be no obstacle to introducing similar flights from various metros via Bhopal. The court also highlighted the importance of tourism in Shillong and suggested that more small aircraft should be made available to promote tourism.

"Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh which is the centre of India. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the city of lakes. For example, almost every week sitting Judges and judicial officers are going to Bhopal where the National Judicial Academy is situated and conferences are held on Saturday and Sunday," the division bench of Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice W Diengdoh observed.

The bench further stated :

"We expressed that since there is no direct flight to Bhopal, in which most of the judicial conferences are held on Saturday and Sunday and on account of non-availability of direct flights, Judges and other Officials are forced to reach Bhopal via Delhi from Guwahati, which consumes more time. Lots of fuel consumption and money wastage. In the National interest, the AAI must ensure at least hopping flights on Friday and Sunday to Bhopal from major cities/States/metros like Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and the like. The authority must consider that in future, at least, there should be a weekly flight on Friday and Sunday to Bhopal from Shillong directly or hopping flights may be introduced, which can fly upto Bhopal or fly via Bhopal. Every citizen of this Country must visit the 'city of lakes' to know how the waterbody is protected."

The High Court is currently hearing a batch of petitions related to the development and expansion of facilities at the Shillong Airport, located about an hour's drive from the city center at Umroi. The judges had previously inspected the Shillong airport runway and found that it needed to be widened to accommodate flights carrying more than 200 passengers.

The judges are now planning to visit three other airports, in Bhutan, Leh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to gather firsthand information about their physical and technical specifications, which could be replicated at the Shillong airport. The State government has expressed its willingness to bear the expenses for this travel, as it is interested in having a larger airport in the state to attract tourists.

The Court said that it expected the AAI would take necessary consent from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, New Delhi to take up the matter with the Bhutan Government so that the judges can inspect the Paro International Airport.

Click here to read the order