Garo hills airport project fails to take off

Shillong: Red tape has clipped the wings of the Garo hills airport project at Baljek, 25 km from Tura on National Highway 51. The project seems to be grounded as both the Centre and the state government have failed to ensure its completion.
The functioning of Baljek airport figures in every politician’s speech. But ironically, the project has been relegated to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The Look East Policy, in which Meghalaya plays an important role, has also failed to elicit a response from the government.
A recent visit to the airport revealed the condition of the airport building. The building is being used as a public lavatory and for “immoral activities”. The AAI, which was entrusted with the task of completing the project to facilitate flight operations in January, failed to do so for reasons best known to them.
The West Garo Hills district administration offered to provide security to the building as well as the personnel at the site. “We had offered to provide security to the AAI personnel long back. But so far no one has approached us,” said P. Sampath Kumar, deputy commissioner, West Garo Hills.
The state government has done its bit, now it is the turn of the AAI to act, said a senior state government official.
09/05/07 Swathi Diwakar/The Telegraph

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Categories: Airports May 2007, New May 2007