Tura (Meghalaya), May 6: The Meghalaya government has taken a significant step towards operationalizing the Baljek Airport with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The MoU will facilitate the operationalization of the airport and the starting of services, transforming the lives of locals and boosting economic growth.
With the signing of the MoU, the responsibility of maintaining the airport and operating flight services now vests with the AAI. The Chief Minister, paying tribute to late P. A Sangma, who conceptualized the airport, said that the airport is a valuable asset not only for the people of the area but for the state as a whole.
The operationalization of the airport will be a game-changer for the people of Garo Hills, making Jengjal an important place, the Chief Minister added. The Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) under Udaan from Shillong to Baljek has been taken up with the Aviation Ministry, and a 19-seater flight will be started under RCS from Shillong to Baljek.
The Chief Minister sought the cooperation of the public in the land acquisition process for the expansion of the airport, emphasizing that the vision 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,” he said.
The Chief Minister also urged the Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the process of land acquisition is not delayed, and the extension of the runway is taken up immediately to facilitate the landing of both cargo and commercial planes. The government’s vision for the aviation scenario in the state is being executed step by step, and the operationalization of Baljek Airport is a significant milestone in this journey.
