SHILLONG : Work has officially begun on the long-awaited Shillong Airport runway expansion at Umroi, with all necessary clearances now in place, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Thursday.
The runway expansion is expected to significantly improve air connectivity to Meghalaya by allowing larger aircraft to operate from Shillong Airport and potentially connecting the state directly with major metropolitan cities.
Announcing the development, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said he was pleased to confirm that construction work on the runway extension had started.
“I am happy to announce that the work for the extension of the runway has started,” Sangma said.
According to the Chief Minister, the project had faced several challenges and pending issues, which were addressed following detailed discussions with authorities in New Delhi.
“We had a lot of challenges, but after detailed discussions and also my last visit to Delhi, these matters were sorted out,” he said.
Project Expected to Be Completed Within 15 Months
The Meghalaya Government expects the runway expansion work to be completed within a maximum of 15 months, although efforts are being made to finish the project earlier.
“We expect that this work will be completed in a maximum of the next 15 months, though we are hoping it will be faster than that,” Sangma said.
The expansion is being viewed as a major step towards strengthening Meghalaya’s aviation infrastructure and improving connectivity for passengers travelling to and from the state.
Direct Flights to Major Metros Expected by 2027
Once the runway extension is completed, Shillong Airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft, opening the possibility of direct air connectivity with major metropolitan cities.
Sangma said the government expects larger flights from different metros to begin landing directly at Umroi by 2027.
“By next year, 2027, we do hope and expect that larger flights from the different metros will be landing directly at Umroi Airport,” the Chief Minister said.
The expansion is expected to benefit tourism, business, trade and residents of Meghalaya by reducing the need to travel to neighbouring airports for flights to major Indian cities.
The project is therefore being seen as an important development for Meghalaya’s long-term connectivity and economic growth.