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States » EastPosted at: May 6 2025 11:03PM


Meghalaya signs MoU with AAI to operationalise Baljek airport

Shillong, May 6 (UNI) The Meghalaya government on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to operationalise the Baljek airport for 20-seater aircraft operations.
The MoU was signed between the Meghalaya Transport department officials and AAI for the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) and Communications, Navigation & Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) for the airport with the AAI at the Baljek airport in West Garo Hills district.
As part of the agreement, AAI will take over the airport on an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) basis for 20-seater aircraft operations and initiate the process to obtain the license for operating the airport.
Earlier, the AAI had submitted the Detailed Project Reports (DPR) prepared in the years 2010 and 2017 based on which the State government acquired 56.5 acres of additional land.
Baljek Airport at Jengjal, located 33 km from Tura, the district headquarters in West Garo Hills in West Garo Hills, has remained non-functional since its inauguration by then-President Pratibha Patil in 2008.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who witnessed the MoU signing ceremony, said the objective of the state is to further expand the airport to accommodate bigger aircraft for which the Meghalaya is working towards expansion of the Airport for operation of ATR-72 type.
“The operationalisation of the airport will be a game changer for the people of the area as Jengjal will become an important place and centre for Garo Hills. With the signing of the MoU now the responsibility of maintaining the airport and operating the flight services now vests with the AAI,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister informed that Regional Connectivity Scheme under Udaan Scheme from Meghalaya’s capital Shillong to Baljek has been taken up with the Aviation Ministry.
“A 19-seater flight will be started under RCS from Shillong to Baljek for which the signing of the MoU is an important step for this,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister also sought the cooperation from the public in the land acquisition process for the expansion of the airport as the vision of the government for the airport is not only for immediate operation of flights but also for the next decades.
“Need to lay the foundation on the basis of the vision for the next thirty to fifty years and not on the current air traffic of the state,” the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister urged the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills district to ensure that the process of land acquisition is not delayed and extension of the runway to be taken up immediately to facilitate landing of both cargo and commercial planes.
“The vision for the aviation scenario in the state is being executed step by step by the government,” Sangma said. UNI RRK SSP
Tags: #Meghalaya signs MoU with AAI to operationalise Baljek airport
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