Guwahati, Dec 7 (IAWS) – In a clear signal that Assam is pushing ahead with infrastructure plans for the Barak Valley, the state Cabinet approved on Sunday the transfer of 3,000 bighas of land at Doloo Tea Estate in Silchar to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The land will be used to build a new green‑field airport, a step that brings the project one move closer to gaining Union Cabinet sanction.
The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Lok Sewa Bhawan. It is expected to give new life to an airport proposal that has lingered for years, tangled in political debate, land‑disputes and public protests.
Once the Union government gives the final nod and construction starts, the new airport should sharply improve travel links in the Barak Valley, cut the region’s reliance on Kumbhira‑gram Airport and stimulate economic activity across southern Assam and the surrounding areas.
Officials said the land‑transfer clearance removes the last big procedural obstacle before the scheme is sent up to the Union Cabinet for final approval. A senior government official noted that the move is in line with Assam’s broader strategy of boosting air infrastructure to support regional trade, tourism and logistics.
The Doloo Tea Estate controversy – which previously drew accusations of forced evictions and damage to tea bushes – has been settled by the state government, which insists that all acquisition steps were lawful and pursued the public interest in the long term.
With the approval now in place, the state government plans to speed up coordination with AAI and central authorities to finish the project design, rehabilitation plans and financial arrangements before work begins.
In addition to the airport land deal, the Cabinet also cleared several other key initiatives: it approved land allocation for 1,200 families under Mission Basundhara, endorsed the Assam Logistics and Warehousing Policy 2025, and signed off on a joint Assam Engineering College–Dassault Systems venture to introduce advanced programmes in aerospace, defence, automotive and electric mobility.
Other approvals included compensation for 884 families displaced by a four‑lane National Highway project in Dima Hasao, administrative approval for Assam’s second Sainik School at Longvaku in Karbi Anglong, and the decision to make history and geography compulsory subjects for students in classes 6–8.
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