Aizawl: Chief Minister Lalduhoma addressed concerns over the progress of Lengpui Airport construction during a recent public statement, expressing the state’s desire to complete the project but citing financial constraints.
“We are determined to construct an airport that we can be proud of, but unfortunately, we are facing financial challenges,” Chief Minister Lalduhoma stated during a public address on Saturday. He acknowledged the current financial limitations and proposed the possibility of handing over the management and development of Lengpui Airport to entities with the necessary resources.
Chief Minister Lalduhoma criticized the previous government’s handling of construction projects, particularly citing contractors like Kamrul. He highlighted discrepancies between the estimated costs and the actual work delivered, emphasising the dire financial situation they currently face, owing more than 5 crores for labor alone.
Commenting on the commitment to quality and timely completion, Chief Minister Lalduhoma stated, “In the ZPM government, we will not accept bad quality. We have appointed people to assess the quality in the CM office. All works should be of top-notch quality and should be completed on time. Such kind of work is not just service to the public but also to God.”
In response to the funding challenge, the Mizoram government is exploring options for the future of Lengpui Airport. An official statement revealed that a meeting led by Chief Minister Lalduhoma in January resulted in the decision to form a working group. This group will assess the feasibility of transferring management and development responsibilities to either the Airport Authority of India (AAI) or private companies.
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The working group has been assigned the task of conducting a comprehensive study on how AAI and private entities manage airports through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models. The aim is to identify the most suitable option that will benefit Mizoram both operationally and economically.
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