Meghalaya High Court: In a public interest litigation pertaining to the development and possible expansion of the facilities at the Shillong Airport, located in Umroi, S. Vaidyanathan, Chief Justice and W. Diengdoh, J. said that the length of the runway should be widened to 2210 metres (approx) to operate larger flights, which can carry around 220 passengers. The Bench directed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to ensure hopping flights on Friday and Sunday to Bhopal from major cities/States like Chennai, Kerala, Kolkata, Guwahati, Shillong and the like.
The Court said that Bhopal is the capital of Madhya Pradesh and unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the city of lakes. The sitting Judges and judicial officers attend the conferences at National Judicial Academy, Bhopal on Saturday and Sunday. The Bench said that due to the non-availability of direct flights, Judges and other Officials are forced to reach Bhopal via Delhi from Guwahati, which consumes more time, extra fuel consumption and wastage of money. Further, the Bench said that AAI must consider that in future, at least, there should be a weekly flight on Friday and Sunday to Bhopal from Shillong directly or hopping flights may be introduced, which can fly up to Bhopal or fly via Bhopal.
The Bench inspected the airport runway on 13-03-2024 and noted various developments including construction of a new Air Traffic Control room. The Bench noted that Indigo, SpiceJet and Alliance were operating their ATR aircrafts with 72 to 80 passengers and the length of the runway should be widened to 2210 metres (approx) to operate flights like AIRBUS 321 etc., which can carry around 220 passengers. It was also noted that the runway is suitable for flights to land and take-off with a capacity of 160 to 180 passengers, but no flight is operational as on date with such huge numbers.
The Bench agreed to personally visit the Airport in Leh and Andaman and Nicobar and the Paro International Airport along with the officials concerned of the State and Central authorities and inspect these airports to get first-hand information regarding the physical and technical specifications of such airports and replicate the same at Shillong Airport. The Court directed the AAI to arrange proper facilities for smooth visitation and inspection of the three Airports and to take necessary consent from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, New Delhi to take up the matter with the Bhutan Government for inspection of the Paro International Airport.
[Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya v. State of Meghalaya, 2024 SCC OnLine Megh 207, Order Dated: 21-03-2024]
