The High Court of Meghalaya was informed on Wednesday that the proposed expansion of Shillong Airport has received environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
A fresh status report submitted on behalf of the Airports Authority of India revealed that the expansion project has been awarded to KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd.. Deputy Solicitor General of India Nitesh Mozika presented the report, which was taken on record by the court.
As per the report, environmental clearance for the project—including the extension of the runway, construction of a new terminal building, apron, and allied infrastructure—was granted on March 28. The work order was subsequently issued to the firm on April 1.
The court was informed that, under Clause 6 of the agreement, the contractor has been given a total of 18 months to complete the project, including a three-month allowance for rainfall, calculated from the 10th day after the issuance of the work order.
Safety-related documentation, prepared during a stakeholders’ meeting on April 8, has been forwarded to the AAI headquarters for review before submission to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Advocate General Amit Kumar informed the court that the Meghalaya government would hand over land to Defence authorities at the earliest, in exchange for land already transferred by Defence for the runway expansion. The court accepted the statement.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, has directed that a fresh status report be submitted on the next date of hearing.