Meghalaya Plans Major Expansion for Tura’s Baljek Airport

Shillong: The Airports Authority of India is drafting a new master plan for Baljek Airport in Tura. Officials will conduct a LiDAR survey and feasibility assessment to check technical viability and land needs. Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar confirmed the update on August 26 during the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly Autumn Session. He briefed MLA Miani D Shira on the project status.

Expansion aims to host ATR-72/Q400 and A320-category aircraft. The state government signed an operations and maintenance memorandum of understanding with the AAI. They plan to take over, develop, and run the site on an "as-is-where-is" basis. This is a big move. The facility has sat idle without regular commercial flights since its 2008 opening.

Government leaders offered to pay the estimated project costs upfront in July to speed up the process. Once the AAI identifies exact land requirements, the state will begin the acquisition phase. This project serves as a push to link the Garo Hills to the rest of the region.