Tura MP pushes for Baljek Airport expansion, says it was not in AAI map

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 25, 2025

The development of Baljek Airport in West Garo Hills district has gained significant attention, with Congress MP from Tura Saleng A Sangma pushing for the expansion of the airport to accommodate larger aircraft. 

Currently, the airport is set to operate 20-seater aircraft under the UDAAN scheme, but Sangma believes it has the potential to handle bigger planes with some renovation and expansion.

“I have already written a letter to the Prime Minister and the minister concerned ot expand it from 20-seater to 75-seater aircraft so that it will do justice to the people of the state,” the MP told reporters on Monday. 

Sangma said the Meghalaya government has recently (on May 6) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to make the Baljek airport operational.

He however said that Baljek Airport was not included in AAI’s map prior to the MoU, which has raised questions about the airport’s development. 

“I had asked about the condition of the Baljek airport during a meeting held in New Delhi in December (last year). In response to this, the AAI in a meeting held at Lakshadweep in January said that Baljek Airport was not there in AAI’s map.”

“Since the Meghalaya government has signed the MoU with AAI, Baljek airport now may be (included in the map). Now, they are asking for license. During that time, there was no license acquired by Meghalaya government. Baljek airport then was a state airport and not under AAI,” Sangma said.

He also questioned, “I don’t know how they (Meghalaya government) brought our (former) president Pratibha Patil that time…without any proper license to land also.”

Asked, Sangma said the state government had signed MoU only for 20-seater aircrafts which is contrary to the expectation of the people that the airport should be expanded for landing of bigger aircrafts.

The MP also stated that with little bit of expansion and renovation, the Baljek Airport will be very much similar to Lakshadweep airport.

It may be noted that the AAI has requested additional land for the facility’s full functionality, and the state government has agreed to acquire 125 acres for Phase-I development and an additional 115 acres for Phase-II. 

The immediate goal is to operationalize the airport for 20-seater aircraft, with plans to upgrade it to accommodate ATR-72 aircraft in the future.

Earlier, the chief minister Conrad K Sangma had expressed confidence that the Baljek Airport will be made operationalize by 2026.