In a significant move to expedite a long-pending infrastructure project, the Meghalaya High Court has issued a firm directive to state authorities. The court has ordered the completion of the direct purchase of private land required for the expansion of Shillong Airport and its subsequent handover to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) by a strict deadline.
Court's Directives and Deadlines
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice W Diengdoh, set January 10 as the final date for the Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner and the state transport department to complete the entire exercise. The land in question measures 11.75 acres and is essential for the airport's expansion plans.
The court's order came while considering the importance of the project and the delays that have plagued the land acquisition process. Previously, the state government, in an action taken report, had indicated a timeline stretching to January 31 for the final handover. However, the bench has now advanced this deadline significantly, emphasizing the need for urgency.
Progress on Land Acquisition and Defence Land Exchange
The court noted the progress made on two fronts. For the direct purchase of the private land, the state cabinet had already approved the acquisition of 7.725 acres on November 26. To facilitate this, the transport department has been directed to transfer the necessary funds to the Ri-Bhoi DC's office within a fortnight from the court's order.
Regarding the separate issue of acquiring 10.30 acres of defence land, the court was informed that the Ri-Bhoi DC, in coordination with defence authorities, has identified suitable land for an exchange. The court has directed all concerned authorities to complete this entire process as expeditiously as possible, preferably within four months.
AAI's Role and Tender Process
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) apprised the court that it is in the process of obtaining concept and design-level approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for the expansion project. The court has asked the AAI to expedite this matter with the DGCA, expecting prompt responses to any requests for approval to ensure the project is completed in a reasonable time.
The court also took note of a setback in the tender process. AAI revealed that a tender for the expansion work—including runway extension, terminal building expansion, and apron works—was called on March 28 with an 18-month completion period. However, the process had to be restarted after the L-1 bidder was found to have submitted false documents.
A fresh tender was issued on September 9, and technical bids were opened on October 27. The technical evaluation of these bids is currently underway. This judicial push is expected to remove a major bottleneck—land acquisition—and align all agencies towards the common goal of modernizing Shillong's air connectivity.
