Shillong: Work on the Shillong Airport expansion is officially underway. The Airport Authority of India confirmed this progress to the High Court of Meghalaya on November 3. Additional Solicitor General N. Mozika and Additional Advocate General N.D. Chullai filed the status report following an October 29 court order.
Contractors moved excavators and earth-moving machinery to the site to begin runway work. Crews also started tearing down the residential colony located in front of the terminal to clear space for building extensions. The project creates a significant footprint change at the facility.
The state government is managing necessary land acquisitions and public access. Plans require 22 acres of land total, split between an isolation bay and a runway end safety area. Officials have already secured 17.68 acres, meeting the specific requirement for the runway safety zone.
Engineers demarcated the land for new access roads during an October 8 survey. The Public Works Department is drafting cost estimates to ensure nearby villages keep their transit routes. As the report noted, "Following the final demarcation of the new boundary wall by AAI, the Department shall undertake the construction of the road along the boundary."
Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh will reconvene the case on December 14. Further construction plans depend on the final boundary wall placement.
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