Shillong, Feb. 24 -- The Meghalaya government has completed the acquisition of private land and secured defence clearance for the expansion of Shillong airport, paving the way for operations of narrow-body aircraft, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Transport Sniawbhalang Dhar informed the Assembly on Tuesday.
The Shillong airport currently handles only ATR-72 aircraft due to its 1,829-metre runway.
Replying to a cut motion, Dhar said the state government, in partnership with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has prepared a Master Plan to extend the runway to 2,400 metres, enabling landing on runway 22 and take-off from runway 04.
"The expansion requires 22 additional acres: 11.75 acres privately owned and 10.3 acres held by defenc...