Submit independent reports on expansion of Umroi Airport: Meghalaya HC to AAI, DGCA

SHILLONG:

The Meghalaya High Court has directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to submit independent reports concerning the development and expansion of the Umroi Airport.

Responding to a PIL on December 2, the division bench, comprising Chief Justice, Sanjib Banerjee and Justice W Diengdoh, stated, "Both DGCA and the AAI have to consider the existing constraints while preparing the independent reports on the development and expansion of the airport within the next two-three years."

The bench further said that it will be beneficial to the passengers, who otherwise have to take the additional detour through Guwahati.

“Within the constraints, the Umroi Airport should be developed and expanded, even if not to cater to larger aircraft, so that there may be more flights and the additional detour through Guwahati is avoided by passengers to and from this state,” the bench said.

During the hearing, the state informed of a new greenfield project to set up an airport, adding that the feasibility study and the cost-benefit analysis show that the expansion is not justified in terms of projected estimates of footfall and use.

The AAI had earlier informed that the already installed Instrument Landing System (ILS) will "enable flights to operate in instruments rules conditions in case of poor visibility”, adding that all-round connectivity to Shillong has improved, given the regular flights to Dimapur, Dibrugarh, Imphal and Kolkata.

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