The Meghalaya High Court has established stringent deadlines for the state government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) regarding the Shillong Airport expansion project, which has faced significant delays. A Division Bench led by Chief Justice Soumen Sen mandated the Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner to finalize the acquisition of 11.75 acres of private land by January 10, 2026, and ordered the Transport Department to hand over this land to AAI by January 31, 2026, ensuring that the necessary funds are transferred within two weeks. Additionally, the Cabinet’s approval for the purchase of 7.725 acres of substitute land has been noted, with instructions to expedite the land-exchange process.
The court also required the removal of all obstacles along the airport’s flight path within four months and emphasized that AAI must promptly secure concept and design approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). AAI is expected to complete the technical evaluation of bids by December 31, 2025, following a public hearing held on October 7, 2025, and the court urged for swift environmental clearance.
To tackle disputes regarding the valuation of defence land for exchange, the Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner, the Joint Secretary of the Transport Department, and the Station Commander of Umroi are ordered to convene an urgent joint meeting, with the findings to be reported in court during the next hearing. The bench highlighted the necessity of the project for the public welfare and expressed hope that by the next court session, AAI would be ready to award the contract to the successful bidder, requiring all relevant authorities to submit updated compliance reports.