Shillong, March 7: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said the government is committed to ensure expansion of the Urmoi Airport and operationalize of 19-20 seater aircrafts from Baljek Airport.

“I am sending a strong message that we are committed to (improve air connectivity) by ensuring Umroi Airport expansion (for landing of bigger aircrafts) and flights start operating from the Baljek Airport,” Sangma told the Assembly during the question hour.

“…discussion is reaching almost the last level and by 2026 we are hopeful we should be able to operate the aircrafts from the Baljek Airport,”he announced adding “We are already on that track.”

TMC legislator from Nongthymmai Charles Pyngrope wanted to know if the government would also consider to examine the possibility of extending the runway of the Baljek Airport for landing of bigger aircraft so that repetition of what is happening in Umroi Airport is avoided.

To this, Sangma said that he has been personally pursuing the matter at his level. “(However) the question of cost and feasibility came in and Airports Authority of India (AAI) was not showing so much inclination (to the proposal)…Therefore, we came to a meeting point to at least let us start with the 19-20 seater aircrafts but we are keeping our options open.”

Earlier while replying to a question raised by TMC legislator Rupa Marak, who expressed concern over the delay to operationalise the Baljek Airport even after 17 long years, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar said, “The Baljek Airport is currently non-operational. The government is in discussions with Airports Authority of India to make Baljek Airport operational for 19-20 seater aircrafts.”

He informed  that 211.13 acres of land is available for the development and expansion of the Airport. 153.13 acres was acquired between 1986-1989 while 175 B-3 K-14 L equivalent to 58 acres in July 21, 2014.

“Rs 3,57,97,775 spent for land acquisition till date in respect of the develoment of the airport,”he said.

Further, Dhar informed that the state government has accepted the proposal for acquiring an additional land of 68 acres of land.

“We are waiting for a joint inspection with the AAI before acquiring the additional land since 211 acres of land is still insufficient,” he said.

Stating that the government is making effort to ensure the airport is operationalised, Dhar said, “We are going to acquire the additional 68 acres of land
then only we will start the expansion of the Airport.”

According to him, the decision to acquire the additional land was after the AAI has expressed unwillingness to operate small aircrafts.

Read: 14 persons arrested for alleged involvement in 2019 MTET question paper leak

WATCH:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub