Shillong, December 12 : The Meghalaya High Court has issued a series of firm directions to expedite the long-pending expansion of the Shillong (Umroi) Airport, stressing that further delay would cause serious public inconvenience.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice W. Diengdoh passed the order while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 4 of 2021 along with MC(PIL) No. 2 of 2021) concerning delays in land acquisition and statutory clearances for the airport project .
The Court noted that the State Government, in its action taken report, informed that 11.75 acres of private land required for runway expansion would be acquired through direct purchase. Emphasising urgency, the Bench directed the Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi District, and the Transport Department to complete the entire land purchase process by January 10, 2026, and hand over possession to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on or before that date.
The Court observed that any further delay would adversely affect public interest and air connectivity in the region .
Regarding the acquisition of 10.30 acres of Defence land, the Court was informed that suitable land for exchange has been identified. The State Cabinet had already approved the direct purchase of 7.725 acres for this purpose on November 26, 2025.
The Bench directed the Transport Department to release the necessary funds within a fortnight to enable the Deputy Commissioner to complete the purchase. Authorities were also instructed to remove all obstacles related to the project preferably within four months .
The Court took note that the AAI has applied for concept and design-level approvals from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It directed the AAI to actively pursue approvals and ensure immediate compliance with any DGCA observations so that the project does not face administrative delays.
The Bench made it clear that all stakeholders must work in coordination to ensure the project is completed within a reasonable timeframe .
The Court was informed that the initial tender for the airport expansion—estimated at ₹119.44 crore (excluding GST)—was scrapped after the lowest bidder was found to have submitted false documents.
A fresh tender was issued on September 9, 2025, with technical bids opened on October 27, 2025. The AAI assured the Court that technical evaluation would be completed by the end of December, following which financial bids would be opened .
The Bench also noted that while a public hearing for environmental clearance was conducted on October 7, 2025, the AAI is yet to be informed of the final outcome. The Court stressed the need for prompt communication between the Pollution Control Board, State authorities, and AAI to avoid procedural bottlenecks .
To address disputes over land valuation with Defence authorities, the Court directed the Deputy Commissioner, Ri-Bhoi, the Joint Secretary, Transport Department, and the Station Commander, Umroi, to hold a joint meeting and resolve differences at the earliest. The outcome of the meeting must be placed before the Court at the next hearing.
Expressing hope that all inter-departmental issues would be resolved promptly, the High Court adjourned the matter to February 10, 2026, expecting visible progress so that construction work can finally commence without further delay .
