The Airports Authority of India (AAI) today said that at the initiative of the State government and in conjunction with the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, a sophisticated survey of the area around Umroi Airport is proposed to be conducted to ascertain the extent to which the existing runway can be extended and whether it may at all be feasible for wider-bodied aircraft than ATR and Bombardiers to operate from the airport.
Informing this during a hearing by the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court, the AAI stated that the LiDAR (light detection and ranging) survey will, probably, have to be outsourced and the AAI is taking appropriate steps in this regard.
Terming the proposed survey as a positive development, the High Court said that the State government has made its intention clear, not only for one or more bigger airports, but also to be able to have an international airport within the State.
“It is hoped that all concerned explore the possibilities to ensure that with the latest technology an airport befitting the State, with international connections, may be available in Meghalaya. Apart from anything else, the colossal loss occasioned to the nation for the travel between Guwahati and Shillong, may be cut down if a bigger airport is available closer to Shillong,” the court said.
The High Court also gave ten weeks for the AAI and State government to report on the progress of the proposed survey. The next hearing on the matter will be held on October 20.
