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Hindustan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Meghalaya pushes for expansion of Baljek Airport
Shillong: The Uttarakhand government has formally requested the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to take over Baljek Airport —located on the outskirts of Tura, the principal town of West Garo Hills District —on an Operations and Maintenance (O\&M) basis, in a renewed effort to boost air connectivity in western Meghalaya. The Baljek Airport was first conceptualised in the late 1990s as part of the central government's vision to enhance air infrastructure in the North East. (Representational image) The immediate goal is to operationalise the airport for 20-seater aircraft, with a clear roadmap to upgrade it for ATR-72-type aircraft in subsequent phases. To initiate this process, the State has urged AAI to begin the licensing procedure with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Simultaneously, key agreements on Operations and Maintenance ((O\&M)) and Communications, Navigation & Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) are being formalised to ensure readiness for regulated civil aviation operations. Baljek Airport was first conceptualised in the late 1990s as part of the central government's vision to enhance air infrastructure in the North East. The construction began in 2001, and the airport was inaugurated in October 2008. Built at an estimated cost of around ₹ 12.5 crore, the airport was originally designed to handle 20-seater aircraft. However, despite the initial enthusiasm, the airport never became operational due to multiple challenges—primarily the lack of licensing, technical readiness, and adequate infrastructure. The airport has since remained inoperative, despite its strategic importance for the Garo Hills region, which continues to rely on road connectivity and distant airports in neighbouring states. In its latest proposal, the state government has asked AAI to take over Baljek Airport on an 'as is where is' basis and initiate development procedures. AAI has responded positively but requested acquisition of additional land to make the facility fully functional and scalable. In line with DPRs prepared by AAI in 2010 and 2017, the state had earlier acquired 56.5 acres of land. AAI has now proposed a total of 125 acres for Phase-I development, incorporating the already acquired land, and an additional 115 acres for Phase-II to support future expansion—including the possibility of extending the runway, building larger terminal infrastructure, and installing advanced navigation systems. In the immediate term, the plan is to begin operations using 20-seater aircraft such as the Dornier 228, which is commonly used under the Government of India's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) regional air connectivity scheme. Once the necessary infrastructure is in place, the airport will be upgraded to accommodate ATR-72 aircraft, which are preferred for regional routes due to their capacity and efficiency. A communique from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) noted, 'The operationalisation and eventual expansion of Baljek Airport is part of a larger commitment to improve connectivity, promote tourism, and drive economic activity in the Garo Hills.' Beyond civil aviation, Baljek Airport holds critical strategic value. Its proximity to the India-Bangladesh international border positions it as a vital asset in the event of national emergencies or border-related contingencies. As demonstrated in Uttar Pradesh, where the Indian Air Force successfully conducted landing and take-off drills on expressways to test rapid deployment capability, upgraded regional airports like Baljek could serve as alternative runways or forward operating bases for the armed forces. Once the runway and air traffic infrastructure are strengthened, Baljek could be used for emergency military operations, enhancing Meghalaya's and India's preparedness along sensitive frontiers. Baljek's revival holds regional significance as well. It is expected to reduce travel time for residents of Garo Hills, attract investment, and improve the region's integration with the rest of the country. The airport's functioning will also improve medical evacuation capabilities and response times during natural calamities. Despite its non-operational status for commercial flights, Baljek Airport has seen landings by several VVIPs and hosted moments of national and international significance. Former President Pratibha Patil made history by inaugurating the airport on October 22, 2008, becoming the first Head of State to land at Baljek. More recently, President Droupadi Murmu touched down at the airport on January 16, 2024, during her official visit to the region, underlining its continued strategic relevance and potential. The airstrip has also welcomed Indian Air Force aircraft for drills, and hosted concerts by Michael Learns to Rock in 2009, Smokie in 2010, and Venga Boys last year —events that brought global attention to the Garo Hills region and underscored the need for better connectivity and infrastructure. With political will aligning with technical preparedness, and both the State and AAI committed to the airport's development, Baljek is poised for long-overdue take-off. If successful, its revival will mark not only the return of air services to the region but also a critical leap in Meghalaya's strategic, economic, and infrastructural roadmap.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Noida airport won't be third time lucky, set to miss May 15 deadline
Noida International Airport will not meet its third official deadline of May 15, originally set by chief minister Yogi Adityanath , with the terminal building unlikely to be ready in time, ToI reported. Although there is no official announcement on a new date, sources said the launch was not expected in the next two months. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack Nuclear Power! How India and Pakistan's arsenals stack up Does America have a plan to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Airspace blockade: India plots a flight path to skip Pakistan The airport is currently one year behind schedule. Its original target date was September 29, 2024, which was first revised to April 17, 2025. After that, the date for domestic flight operations was set for May 15 and international operations for June 25. However, these too now seem unlikely, as key construction work remains unfinished. Since January 1, the Uttar Pradesh government has imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh per day on concessionaire Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) for delays in completing the project. On Tuesday, chief secretary Manoj Kumar Singh inspected the site in Jewar and held discussions with officials from YIAPL, Tata Projects Limited and Noida International Airport Limited (NIA). Singh is expected to conduct a stakeholder meeting soon to define a new completion timeline and will submit a comprehensive report within 15 days. GIF89a����!�,D; 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Husband Calls the Police after Discovering the Shocking Truth About His Wife's Dog Obsession Happy in Shape During a recent meeting, the chief minister called for all stakeholders to act with urgency. Senior officials were instructed to hold regular review meetings and speak directly with the chairman of Tata Sons to ensure accountability at the highest level. While an official update on the current construction status was not shared, data till March 10 showed that the overall physical progress was at 80%. The runway and related airside infrastructure were 90% complete and expected to be ready by April. The passenger terminal building was also 80% complete, but steel roofing and internal finishing were still ongoing. The water and sewage treatment plants were only 40% complete and considerably behind schedule. Live Events You Might Also Like: CIDCO reviews progress of Navi Mumbai airport The Air Traffic Control (ATC) building was scheduled for completion by March 31. However, the commissioning of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) systems by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) was only expected by April 30. Officials earlier told the chief minister that the non-issuance of the aerodrome licence from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA ), coupled with ongoing construction delays, was a major hurdle to launching flight operations by April 30. During a DGCA review meeting on March 5, AAI had informed that only limited ATC functionality could be made available for inspection after April 30. The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), which reviewed key safety documentation including the bomb threat contingency plan, anti-hijack contingency plan, and the airport security programme, had raised observations that required compliance. BCAS stated it would need 45 days after receiving responses to issue security clearance. In case of a partial terminal opening, a structural stability certificate would also be required. At the same DGCA meeting, YIAPL was asked to submit detailed operational scenarios, considering that the terminal and cargo apron were not yet finished. Based on those discussions, the DGCA advised YIAPL to finish all remaining tasks mentioned in the draft Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) Supplement and ensure complete preparedness by April 15. The DGCA also presented three options for making the airport operational: starting only cargo operations by May 15, launching limited passenger services using a portion of the terminal, or achieving full Phase 1 readiness. Sources said that once the airport becomes functional, it is expected to adopt the phased model recommended by DGCA—beginning with domestic and cargo flights and expanding to international operations later. (with ToI inputs)
