Guwahati, Aug. 14 -- The Meghalaya High Court has strongly rebuked both the central and state governments for delaying the expansion of the Shillong airport runway, emphasizing that the project must not continue at the "typical bureaucratic pace" when swift progress is necessary.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh pointed out that, although authorities recognize the importance of extending the runway to handle larger aircraft, their efforts fall far short of the urgency the situation requires.

According to the court, the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) has already received Rs 72.17 crore for acquiring 11.75 acres of private land. However, the government has yet to final...