SHILLONG, MAY 9: Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar on Friday said the work order for the expansion of Umroi airport, worth around Rs 80 crore, has been allotted and work is expected to begin soon.
“Regarding the Umroi airport, the work for expansion has been allotted. So they are yet to start the work. Rs 80 crore work order has been allotted,” Dhar told reporters.
He said the project should be completed within 18 months of the work order being issued.
On the demand for a direct road link to the airport from the Shillong bypass, Dhar said work was already in progress.
“The work is already in progress. The road from Belfont-Langkyrding to the new Secretariat and then directly to the airport — the road is in progress and Rs 135 crore has been sanctioned by the PWD department,” he said.
Regarding land acquisition for the airport expansion, the Deputy Chief Minister said a joint inspection was required before finalising the site.
“I have told the Deputy Commissioner last month to check again and conduct another joint inspection with the Airport Authority of India to finalize the location of the additional land before we acquire it,” he said.
He explained, “Before we acquire the land, a joint inspection has to be conducted between the State Government officials and the AAI so that we would not acquire the wrong land. We have to check the direction, this and that, and when they say it is okay, there is no problem for us. We are ready to purchase at any point of time if the joint inspection final report is submitted to us.”
