Shillong: The High Court of Meghalaya has issued a stern warning to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation regarding persistent delays in the expansion of Shillong Airport at Umroi. A Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh, highlighted that 45 days have already passed since the construction was scheduled to begin. The project remains stalled as the aviation authority has yet to approve essential safety assessments.
The court emphasized that continued inactivity could force the public to pay for rising costs. "We are afraid that this delay would further delay the project, leading to cost escalation, indirectly resulting in the taxpayers having to bear the brunt of the same," the Bench noted. This expansion is considered critical to reducing the state's reliance on commuting to Guwahati.
Although environmental clearances were obtained in March and the contract was awarded to M/s KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. in April, the project is currently held up in bureaucracy. Deputy Solicitor General of India Dr. Mozika explained that the Airports Authority of India is still vetting documents before they can be sent to the DGCA. Advocate General A. Kumar confirmed that land exchanges with defense authorities are finished, removing previous obstacles to extending the runway.
The comprehensive project includes runway extensions, terminal enlargement, and the construction of a new apron. The current contract outlines an 18-month completion window, which accounts for the local monsoon season. The court has directed the Deputy Solicitor General to provide an update on the DGCA's progress at the next hearing.
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