REGISTRAR GENERAL, HIGH COURT OF MEGHALAYA Vs. STATE OF MEGHALAYA AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This present writ petition was registered on the basis of the report of causing undue hardships and inconvenience to the local populace at large in availing the service (all weather) of the big turbo -jet AB -321 aircrafts despite huge investment of public money to make the Shillong Airport functional as submitted by the Registrar General of this High Court.

(2.) Heard Mr. P.K. Rai, learned Sr. counsel, assisted by Mr. P. Yobin, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Mr. B.P. Todi, learned Addl. AG, assisted by Ms. Y. Shylla, learned GA, appearing for the respondents No. 1 and 2, Mr. N. Mozika, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No. 3 and Mr. K.Paul, learned counsel appearing for the respondents No. 4 and 5.

(3.) The fact of the case unfold in the proceeding of the present writ petition is briefly recapitulated. The airport (Shillong Airport), also known as Umroi Airport, is a civilian airport located at Umroi about 30 kms from Shillong, Meghalaya. The airport was constructed in mid 1960s. Land measuring 224.16 acres was acquired for expansion of the airport in 2009. The new terminal building was built at the cost of Rs. 300 million. However, the airport is a small airport set up over an area of 192 acres having a runway of 1829 metres length. The airport is capable of operating only small aircraft like ATR -42 under BFR conditions requiring visibility of 5km or more. During rainy seasons and poor visibility conditions, the flights are unable to land at the airport due to lack of IAL facility. Due to constrain of adequate runway length, operation of bigger turbo -jet AB -321 aircrafts like Boeing, Airbus etc from the airport is not possible. In order to explore the possibility of runway extension at the provision of associated infrastructure required for smooth and uninterrupted conduct of aircraft operations from the airport even during bad weather, low visibility conditions by turbo -jet aircrafts like Boeing, Airbus etc through this airport, the State Government of Meghalaya had requested the Central Government and the Airport Authority of India (for short AAI) to arrange site inspection of additional land required for extension of runway and provisions of other associated infrastructure for smooth conduct of operation at all times as per parameters and norms fixed by ICAO/DGCA/AAI etc. For expansion of Shillong (Umroi Airport), the consultant in their detailed project report recommended that additional land to the extent of 205.489 acres would be required for the expansion of the airport.