Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The Meghalaya High Court has issued a sharp warning to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation regarding persistent delays in the expansion of Shillong Airport. Despite the environmental clearances granted in March and a construction contract already awarded to M/s KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd., the project remains stalled as it awaits vital aviation safety approvals.
Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh noted during a recent hearing that construction was initially scheduled to begin 45 days ago. The court emphasized that without these clearances, contractors cannot deploy heavy machinery or equipment to the site. The Bench cautioned that any prolonged delay threatens the project timeline and risks ballooning costs, stating, "any prolonged delay could affect both the completion schedule and the overall cost of the project, ultimately increasing the financial burden on the public."
The expansion project is critical for improving regional connectivity and reducing reliance on lengthy road travel to Guwahati. Advocate General A. Kumar confirmed that land exchange negotiations with defense authorities are finished, clearing a significant hurdle for the runway extension. Currently, technical documents are under review by the Airports Authority of India before they move to the DGCA for final authorization.
The awarded contract requires the infrastructure upgrades, including a longer runway and a new apron, to be finished within 18 months. The court has directed the Deputy Solicitor General of India to provide a status update on these approvals at the next hearing while urging for a more efficient processing of the remaining regulatory steps.
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