Shillong: The proposed expansion of Shillong Airport has received overwhelming backing from local villagers, who attended a public hearing on Tuesday to discuss the project.
While village leaders welcomed the initiative, they also highlighted the importance of creating employment opportunities for the local community.
Director of Shillong Airport, Rishi Kant Bangwal, said the project aims to modernise the airport to accommodate larger aircraft such as the A320. The runway will be extended from 1,829 meters to 2,400 meters, an increase of 571 meters, while the terminal building will more than double in size, expanding from 5,000 sq. m to 10,500 sq. m. The state government is handling the land acquisition required for the project.
“The runway extension and terminal expansion will allow the airport to handle larger aircraft and increased passenger traffic. The project is currently in the tendering stage and is expected to be completed within 18 months once construction begins,” Bangwal said.
The airport authorities have assured that residents from nearby villages will be prioritised for employment. “The expansion work will be overseen by the appointed agency and we will ensure that semi-skilled and unskilled workers are sourced from local villages wherever possible. For skilled and specialised positions, candidates will be selected based on qualifications, but we will also give preference to local talent,” Bangwal added.
Currently, 70-80 percent of the airport workforce are locals, he noted, and predicted that as passenger traffic grows from the present 1.5 million per year to 5–6 million, employment opportunities could increase three to four times.
Bangwal also highlighted the airport’s plans for corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, including proposals to improve facilities for a local blind school. Additionally, the airport is coordinating with the Education Department to divert a drain that is reportedly obstructing water flow to downstream farms, addressing concerns raised by local farmers.
The public hearing reflected strong local consensus in favour of the expansion, with villagers emphasising that the project should benefit both regional connectivity and community welfare.
