A mountain which could be seen from the south-west side of the Umroi airport stands in the way of expansion of the airport and a huge amount of money is required for removal of the mountain.
This was revealed during the recent visit by Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh to the Umroi airport.
Justice Vaidyanathan and Justice Diengdoh were accompanied by Kumbamut Lang Nongbri, Joint Secretary, Transport Department, Government of Meghalaya, Chief Engineer, PWD (R), Airports Authority of India (AAI) General Manager Shailesh Kumar Rathore and other technical officers of the AAI besides P Yobin Amicus Curiae and Dr. Nitesh Mozika, Deputy Solicitor General of India.
During the visit, the two judges along with the officials inspected the south east side of the airport and found the availability of sufficient acres of land without any hindrance and the possibility of expanding the airport for landing and take-off.
Meanwhile, Justice Vaidyanathan, Justice Diengdoh Additional Advocate General K Khan, Amicus Curiae P Yobin, and also the officials of the State government and AAI will visit the airports at Leh, Andaman & Nicobar and Bhutan from April 10 to 18 to see if the improvement in these three airports can be introduced in Umroi airport.
The AAI has been asked to arrange proper facilities for the visit and inspection of the three airports. The High Court has also directed AAI to take necessary consent from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, New Delhi to take up the matter with the Bhutan government for the proposed visit to the Paro International Airport in Gangtok.
