SHILLONG : Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said that the Shillong Airport expansion project is progressing as planned, despite facing certain challenges that require coordination among multiple stakeholders.
Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister described the project as complex but assured that work remains on track.
“Basically, things are on track. It is a very complicated issue which requires multiple levels of intervention and the involvement of multiple stakeholders,” Sangma said.
Highlighting a recent concern raised by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Sangma said a land-related issue has emerged due to safety considerations, which the state government is actively working to resolve.
“Another land issue has come up, which we are trying to resolve. The safety of flights and the safety of people residing in that area is our priority,” he said.
Expressing confidence that the project will not face major delays, the Chief Minister said construction work is expected to begin soon once the immediate issues are addressed.
“We do not expect much delay in the work. Once that part is done, construction will start, and while construction is ongoing, we will continue to resolve other pending issues,” Sangma added.
The Chief Minister further announced that the government is targeting completion of the airport expansion by 2027, which would allow operations of larger aircraft.
“I expect that by 2027, we will be able to complete the project and reach the target we have planned. Larger flights should start operating around February or March 2027,” he said.
The expansion of Shillong Airport is expected to significantly improve air connectivity and boost economic activity and tourism in Meghalaya.