Shillong: Construction crews are now moving on the Shillong Airport expansion project. The plan centers on a massive jump in capacity. The domestic terminal will balloon from 5,000 square meters to 10,550 square meters. The runway will also stretch from 1,829 meters to 2,400 meters, paired with upgrades to the apron and site infrastructure.
The Airports Authority of India secured environmental clearance on March 28, 2026, under Category B1, Schedule 7(a). The project covers 168.414 hectares of non-forest land. Officials confirmed no forest land is involved. The total bill sits at 488.67 crore rupees. A specific budget of 1.2375 crore rupees covers the Environmental Management Plan. Public hearings wrapped up on October 7, 2025. No residents face relocation.
Strict rules govern the construction site. Waste segregation, a sewage treatment plant for water reuse, and rainwater harvesting systems are mandatory. Contractors must limit noise to daylight hours between 7 am and 6 pm. They must also install a green belt of native trees along the boundary. Authorities require a traffic decongestion plan for all roads within five kilometers of the facility.
Monitoring stations will track PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NOx levels. The developer must file reports every six months and perform an annual self-audit. Every three years, a third party will conduct an environmental audit. As the work progresses, the project aims to stabilize local operations while strictly adhering to these standards. The agency stated, "The clearance ties the project to waste segregation and disposal, a sewage treatment plant with reuse of treated water, rainwater harvesting, storm-water drainage, dust and noise control, and a green belt of native trees along the airport boundary."
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