Construction of the greenfield airport at Hollongi near here has been approved in principle by the Union Civil Aviation ministry, the Assembly was informed today.
Responding to a question raised by Opposition Leader Tamiyo Taga during Question Hour, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki informed that the process to start construction of the project had already begun.
Tuki said, in the beginning the site for the proposed airport project was selected at Karsingsha.
However, after the visit of the technical expert committee of the Civil Aviation ministry and the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Hollongi under Balijan circle was finalised.
"The state government cannot select the site technically. It is selected by the AAI after assessing all technical aspects," the chief minister said in response to a supplementary.
He said, the process of land acquisition and payment of compensation was in the final stage and construction of boundary wall and security fencing would be started soon.
Tuki while responding to another supplementary admitted that a few portions of the site fall under residential area where Chakma and Hajong refugees have settled.
"The area is not within the proposed runway but falls under the site," he added.
