Shillong, Aug 14: The Meghalaya High Court has criticized the slow progress of the Shillong Airport expansion project and directed both the state and centre authorities to accelerate the progress to ensure its completion as soon as possible.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice IP Mukerji and Justice W Diengdoh expressed regret over the lack of commitment and urgency from both the Central and State governments in accomplishing the expansion goals.

“We have received a short note from Additional Advocate General on behalf of the State. Deputy Solicitor General has also made submissions. Regrettably, it appears from those submissions, that although both the Central and State governments are conscious of the importance of expansion of this airport, the required urgency and commitment to propose in accomplishing this goal is not visible from the reports received by us,” the bench has stated in its order passed on Wednesday.

It said that the State government released ₹72.17 crores for purchasing 11.75 acres of land, but no agreements have been signed with landowners, and the transfer of funds seems to be merely a procedural step.

“This is nothing but state-to-state instrumentality transfer of fund. There is not an agreement for sale of land entered into with any party let alone transfer in their favour. We wonder when this transferred fund will be utilised to purchase the land.”

The bench also pointed out that the army authorities have allowed the use of some land under their custody, but the demarcation exercise between military and state land is still ongoing.

“The army authorities have been good enough to allow some portion of land in their custody to be utilised for this purpose.  According to the report, only the exercise of demarcation of land between them and the State is going on. Nothing has been done to demarcate and allocate this land for airport use,” it stated.

Deputy Solicitor General, Dr Mozika has informed the court that the Airports Authority of India would only be able to conclude the contract for construction of infrastructure with a contractor after obtaining clearance from the Director General of Civil Aviation, receiving environmental clearance and on acquisition of land for the airport .

Environmental clearance was expected to be obtained by 31st October, 2025. Clearance by the Director General of Civil Aviation is pending.

“In those circumstances, we can only direct that the above steps which have been taken in an absolutely usual government pace be accelerated. It is high time that this project which has been contemplated for the welfare of this State is completed as soon as possible,” the bench has directed.

The State and Central governments are also directed to file action taken reports before the next hearing on December 8, 2025.

Also Read: State Govt sanctions ₹45 Crore for Ïewduh beautification and upgrade

Also 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