The Meghalaya government has decided to make the Baljek Airport operational located in West Garo Hills district with the help of Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on September 3rd, 2019 along with AAI officials and the state transport department inspected the airport. “Inspected Baljek Airport with officials of Airport Authority of India in presence of Home Minister James K Sangma and Advisor Thomas A Sangma. Have discussed measures to speed up intervention to make the airport operational,” the Chief Minister tweeted.
After the inspection, Sangma said that a process will be followed after which the airport will be handed over to the AAI. Also, the state government is hopeful that chopper service will be operationalized and with the extension of the runway more aircraft will land in the future.
It may be mentioned, the Baljek airport was inaugurated in October 2008 and was built at a cost of Rs 12.52 crore. The airport was designed to handle aircraft with 20 seater capacities and the AAI is planning to extend its 3,300-feet runway by another 1,200 feet.
Photo credit: @SangmaConrad
