Progress or Profit? As Shillong Airport expansion nears, new houses ‘mushroom’ around airport

Shillong, Oct 29: The residents of Meghalaya are excited that the much-awaited expansion of the Shillong Airport finally seems to be happening that will enable larger aircrafts to land, improving its connectivity to the rest of the nation. But the ground reality may throw some cold water on those dreams as a rapid change is taking place around the vicinity of the airport, where the land is to be acquired.

Following Meghalaya Government’s announcement to expand Shillong Airport with an additional 16-17 acres of land, the area around has turned into a construction hub as landowners race to build properties before the Government finalizes its land acquisition.

The upgraded airport will improve travel and trade for residents, facilitate tourism, and potentially bring in new investments from other regions. However, while the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will cover infrastructure improvements, the financial burden of acquiring land falls solely on the State Government.

With land prices reportedly soaring in response to the airport expansion, this bill could be significantly higher than anticipated. This means the Government will now have to spend two or three times the usual amount because people are aware of the opportunity to profit and inflate the Government’s budget requirements. The sudden surge in development has also sparked questions about the locals’ intentions.

This also raises concern that if the government would even go ahead with its proposed plan if the land acquisition cost goes beyond its budget, as has been in the past where plans have been shelved at the last moment due to high land costs and opposition from the villagers.

Why is this the case?

Hub News & KaShlem teams recently visited Umden Arka and Umden Mission, the villages where the Government plans to acquire land to expand the airport, and one can see the recent developments and how much more it may cost.

In these two villages near Umrynjah, still under Umroi constituency, there has been a notable change in recent months, as new houses have mushroomed in previously open spaces. ‘Landowners’ are within their rights to do what they wish on their property, whether that means planting crops or building structures. However, it is surprising to see how quickly construction has escalated in these areas since the Government’s land purchase announcement.

Speaking to our reporter, some villagers said that the housing market in the area has surged over the past two or three months since the Government announced the land acquisition for Shillong Airport construction. They noted that landowners, including villagers and individuals from Shillong, have put up houses in all available spaces, from roadside plots to larger lands.

According to the villagers, the intention is that if the Government takes the land, compensation will be higher, especially given the rising cost of construction.

Sources say that the State Government has yet to complete the land survey, but it is clear that the airport expansion will involve extending the runway for larger aircraft, requiring land acquisition in the villages of Umden Arka and Umden Mission.

The biggest question now on everyone’s mind is who will benefit from the expansion of the Shillong Airport project—the people of the state or the local residents? Ultimately, the expansion of Shillong Airport is a step towards progress, albeit a costly one. If it comes through, it will bring better connectivity and economic opportunities to the State as a whole.

However, it remains to be seen if the villagers have once again shot themselves in the foot or struck gold!

Read: Tragic Reality: 25-Day-Old Infant Sold for Rs 30,000 Amidst Poverty in Assam’s Dhemaji District

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