Tuesday, March 26, 2024
The expansion of Umroi Airport, located in the south-western region, faces a significant natural obstacle: a mountain obstructing its growth. This challenge came to light during a site visit by Meghalaya High Court Chief Justice S. Vaidyanathan and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, highlighting the complexities involved in extending the airport’s capabilities. The visit included a delegation of notable figures such as Kumbamut Lang Nongbri, Joint Secretary of the Transport Department for the Government of Meghalaya, the Chief Engineer of PWD (R), Shailesh Kumar Rathore, General Manager of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), along with other AAI technical officers, P Yobin Amicus Curiae, and Dr. Nitesh Mozika, Deputy Solicitor General of India.
During their inspection, particularly focusing on the south-east side of the airport, the group identified a considerable expanse of land that could facilitate the airport’s expansion without any natural obstructions, presenting a viable alternative for extending the runway to accommodate landings and take-offs more efficiently. This discovery paves the way for potential solutions to the airport’s expansion issues, promising enhanced connectivity and service capabilities.
In pursuit of broader improvements and insights, the delegation, including Justices Vaidyanathan and Diengdoh, Additional Advocate General K Khan, Amicus Curiae P Yobin, and representatives from the state government and AAI, plans to undertake an exploratory visit to the airports in Leh, Andaman & Nicobar, and Bhutan from April 10 to 18. This visit aims to gather valuable knowledge on the developments and enhancements at these locations that could be applicable to Umroi Airport.
The AAI has been tasked with coordinating the logistics of this trip, ensuring access to the necessary facilities for a comprehensive inspection of the three airports. Moreover, the High Court has instructed the AAI to secure the required permissions from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in New Delhi for the visit to Paro International Airport in Gangtok, indicating a thorough and collaborative approach to address the expansion challenges at Umroi Airport.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
