Shillong: Work on the expansion of the runway at Shillong Airport in Umroi has begun after the necessary clearances for the project were secured, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said on Thursday, expressing confidence that the upgraded facility will be able to accommodate larger aircraft from major metropolitan cities by 2027.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Sangma said the project had faced several challenges, particularly relating to the required clearances, but these were resolved following detailed discussions with authorities in New Delhi.
“I am happy to announce that the work for the extension of the runway has started. This is a very, very important step for us,” Sangma said.
According to the Chief Minister, the runway extension is expected to be completed within a maximum period of 15 months, although the government hopes the work will be completed earlier.
The expansion project involves extending the existing runway at Umroi from 1,829 metres to 2,400 metres, a move aimed at enabling the airport to handle larger aircraft and improve direct air connectivity to Meghalaya. The state government had earmarked ₹150 crore for Umroi Airport in the 2026-27 Budget.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also received environmental clearance for the wider expansion project, which includes the runway extension, expansion of the terminal building and apron, and allied works. The environmental clearance was granted on March 28, 2026.
A Meghalaya government submission before the High Court had earlier recorded that the work order for the expansion project was awarded to KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. on April 1, 2026, with the contract providing an 18-month construction period, including three months for the monsoon.
The project has also required coordination on aviation safety and flight-path obstacles. The state government said last month that it was seeking execution-level approval from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), while simultaneously working on removal of identified obstacles.
Sangma said the completion of the runway expansion would mark a significant improvement in Meghalaya’s air connectivity.
“We do hope and expect that the larger flights from the different metro will be landing directly Umroi Airport,” he said, adding that the government is targeting 2027 for the commencement of such operations.