Shillong, May 12: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his deputy Prestone Tynsong are in the Capital to meet Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to discuss improving air connectivity.
The duo submitted proposals to Scindia to establish heliports and international airport in the state. Apart from establishing the heliports in Shillong and Tura, Sangma proposed for setting up of an international airport, besides making Baljek airport located in West Garo Hills district operational.
“These proposals are aimed at boosting our state’s tourism potential and economic growth through air connectivity,” Sangma said.
The state has just one airport at Umroi that is unable to handle large aircraft like Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 as the runway is short. Efforts are to extend the runaway from 6,000 feet to 7500 feet so that Boeing and Airbus can land and take off.
Apart from Scindia, Sangma and Tynsong called on Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday afternoon.
The Baljek airport on the other hand has been non-operational and so the Garo Hills region does not have an airport yet.
Work is on to extend the airport’s runway so that ATRs could operate from it. Currently, the length of the runway is a mere 3,300 feet.
