Shillong, Sept 23: The state government has decided to seek exemption from the Centre on certain guidelines in order to pave way for the expansion of the Shillong Airport.

The state cabinet would also sit on Wednesday to clear the proposal of acquiring an additional 22 acres of land for the expansion project to allow big aircrafts to land in the Shillong Airport.

This was informed by the Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar after an inspection to the Shillong Airport here on Friday.

He also held a meeting with the officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry and Airport Authority.

Also present were chief secretary, commissioner & secretary and officials from the transport department.

“The government is very serious to expand the airport,” Dhar told reporters after the meeting.

“We have received the second report from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), which indicated that the possibility is there (to expand the runway of the airport) but there are certain issues, which needs to be taken up with the government of India before proceeding ahead with the expansion project,” he said while adding “These related to certain guidelines, where we need the government of India to exempt so that we can bring big aircraft to land in the Shillong airport.”

Asked, the deputy chief minister said, “If exemption is not considered, the cost will be so much to bear. If we get the exemption, we can expand the airport within few years from now.”

“Further, as per latest survey, we want to avoid hillocks so we will have to extend the runway – 900 meters within our own land. if we have to clear hillocks it will cost over Rs 8000 crores. But there are certain guidelines, we will request government of India to exempt to pave way for expansion of the airport runway,” he added.

Dhar further informed that the government required to acquire additional 22 acres of land for the expansion project of which 16 acres for safety aspects and 6 acres for parking bay for big aircrafts.

“In regards to this, day after tomorrow we will be having a cabinet to clear this proposal and we will move ahead with the government of India,” he said.

To another query, Dhar said, “As per the plan, more or less Rs 500 crore wil be spent by AAI and land acquisition will be spent by the state government.”

“If everything is done, the airport will be made 24X7 functional and it can help generate 300-400 jobs both directly and indirectly,” he added.

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