The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday has directed the State government to hand over land acquired for expansion of the Shillong airport in Umroi to the airport authorities not later than two months.
It also directed the central government to go ahead with the tender process for building or renovating the infrastructure of the airport to facilitate its expansion.
The division bench of Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said this could be done so that once land is possessed, expansion can commence immediately.
It may be mentioned that in its April 30, 2025 order, the court had directed the State government to take a cabinet decision to approve buying 11.7 acres of land for expansion of the Shillong Airport at Umroi within three weeks.
The court had allowed the State to buy private land after the latter submitted that if land is acquired under the Land Acquisition Act, it would be time consuming.
“If there is any impediment or difficulty in compliance with this direction, the state will bring it to the notice of this court by an application well within the period of two months,” the court said.
The Airports Authority of India requires a total of 22 acres of land for expansion and development of the airport, out of which the Defence department is already prepared to provide 10.3 acres on leave and licence basis.
The court also directed the State government to hold consultations within two months with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) with regards to the obstructions in the flight path to the airport, an issue flagged during a meeting held between the DGCA and the Shillong Airport authorities.
The matter has been listed on July 15, 2025 where action taken reports of both the state and the central governments will be heard.
The court expressed hope that the project will have a “substantial forward march,” by the next hearing.
