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Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma met Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri K. Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi this week to push for the long-planned expansion of Shillong Airport and for the inclusion of Baljek Airport near Tura under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. Sangma conveyed that both projects are important for improving air travel, boosting tourism and creating more economic opportunities for local communities. The aviation minister assured support and highlighted that better airport infrastructure would directly help tourism, handicrafts, agriculture and small livelihood groups.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma met Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri K. Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi earlier this week to discuss the expansion of Shillong Airport. He also requested that Baljek Airport near Tura be brought under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme to improve air travel in the western region of the state. During the meeting, Sangma showed appreciation for the ministry's support and stressed that better air links will help both tourism and everyday travel for residents. Advertisement
Naidu stated that strengthening airport infrastructure is important for Meghalaya's growing tourism economy. He noted that improved connectivity would support related sectors such as handicrafts, agriculture and community-based tourism, which are major sources of income for local artisans, farmers and women-led groups. Sangma also repeated that air connectivity remains one of the state's top development priorities.
The push for expansion comes as the airport is already in a development phase, with a tender worth INR 119 crore issued earlier this year for major works. These include extending the runway, upgrading the terminal building and adding new systems to handle larger aircraft. Shillong Airport currently accommodates mostly turboprop aircraft due to runway limitations, and the state government has said that the upgrade will help attract more flights and improve reliability.
The Meghalaya High Court had earlier directed authorities to speed up the expansion, noting that frequent cancellations and limited runway length were affecting passengers. The court mentioned that around 22 acres of land would need to be acquired from both private owners and the Defence Department for the project to move ahead. This land requirement has been under discussion between state and central agencies.
Officials have estimated that the expansion and the increase in tourism activity could generate more than 3,000 jobs, including construction-related roles and positions created as tourist services grow. The state government is also working to widen its tourism infrastructure by supporting more homestays, improving rural tourism routes and enhancing facilities in key destinations.
A state press note recently highlighted that the expansion of Umroi Airport remains a priority and that Baljek Airport has already been inaugurated with plans to introduce helicopter connectivity. The note added that these improvements are meant to strengthen tourism, support small entrepreneurs and create steady income opportunities in different parts of the state.
Source PTI
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