Govt seek Rajnath’s nod for Umroi airport expansion: Conrad

Shillong, Feb 26: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has sought an appointment with the union defence minister Rajnath Singh for requesting the ministry to grant permission for putting the instrument landing equipments on the defence land in order for the state to be able to start the expansion of the runway of the Umroi Airport.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sangma said, “There is a section of about 10 to 12 acres which is ahead of the runway, which we require for the extension of the runway and out of that about 4 acres is in the army land that is there and hence our talks are on with Government of India.”

“I had a very positive meeting with Rajnath Sing last time and I am seeking an appointment now with him to meet the defence secretary and the army chief along with the defence minister so that there and then we can take the decision and move things forward,” he added.

Dividing the decision on the matter into two parts, Sangma said, “The first decision actually is the agreement for the swapping of the land which in principle has been agreed, so that is not going to be a problem.”

“The second part is where we want things to be expedited. Now what is happening is by the time the swapping takes place which will be 3-6 months time depending on how fast we can proceed with the swapping, we can actually start the work of the extension of the runway, which means that without getting the land, we have enough land because there is a buffer space still there available which is enough for the extension work to happen and also now is a working season. So this is the right time for them to start the extension of the runway but there is Instrument Landing Equipment that is in that buffer zone within the boundary wall of AAI, now those equipment need to be placed in that land which is going to be swapped from the army. So we need a working permission from the army to allow us to just put those equipments there while the swapping is happening in order for us to be able start the runway work and save six months more otherwise after the rain if it happens then we are losing again till September, October and November and our flights may be extended till next year,” he said.

“So I would wish and desire that this entire process moves faster, so that we are able to put equipments there while the swapping happens, so the Army has to give us that NOC, so that then the construction of the runway starts and the meantime the swapping place and we save 6 months time,” the CM added.

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