HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, May 20: The Meghalaya government is nearing completion of a feasibility study to determine the possibility of expanding Umroi Airport near Shillong.
The report, expected within three months, will address the limitations of the current airport, which can only accommodate smaller turboprop aircraft due to a runway insufficient for jetliners.
Commissioner and Secretary Sanjay Goyal of the Transport Department confirmed that the survey is underway.
Previously, runway extension was deemed impractical due to the high cost (estimated at Rs 7,000 crore) associated with removing nearby hills.
Finding an alternative site entirely proved equally expensive due to land acquisition and development needs.
Despite the expansion challenges, the state government has received interest from additional airline operators keen on connecting Shillong to more cities.
Pre-bid discussions are currently in progress.
Currently, Umroi offers subsidized flights to various North Eastern cities and Kolkata through the central government’s UDAN scheme.
The state government has also partnered with SpiceJet to provide a non-daily service between Umroi and New Delhi.
Officials are looking to introduce daily flights on this route, along with connections to Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore.
