A fresh status report filed on behalf of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) further apprised the court that the expansion contract has been handed to KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd.

The report was tendered by Deputy Solicitor General of India Nitesh Mozika and was taken on record by the bench.

Going through the document, the court noted that the ministry issued its green clearance on 28 March, covering the runway expansion, upgradation of the terminal building, apron works and other related components of the project. The work order was handed to the firm on 1 April.

As per Clause 6 of the work order, the company has been given 18 months to wrap up the project, which includes a three-month buffer factored in for the monsoon.

This timeline begins from the tenth day following the issuance of the letter.

The court was also apprised that safety-related documents were drawn up during the stakeholders' meeting held on 8 April for safety assessment during the execution phase.

These have since been forwarded to the AAI headquarters for vetting before being placed before the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Advocate General Amit Kumar told the bench that the Meghalaya government will transfer land to the Defence authorities at the earliest, in exchange for the land already ceded by the Defence to the state for the runway expansion, if the handover has not already been completed.

The submission was accepted by the court.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, directed that an updated status report be placed before it on the next date of hearing.

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