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Public hearing on Silchar Greenfield Airport Concludes Peacefully: Assam CM
Jun 24, 2025The Assam government’s plans to develop a greenfield airport in Silchar took a step forward as the public hearing for the proposed site at Doloo Tea Estate in Cachar district concluded peacefully on Monday. The development was confirmed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who described it as a "significant milestone" in the state’s broader vision to boost connectivity and development in the Barak Valley region.
“A major step forward. The public hearing for the Greenfield Doloo Airport project in Cachar district concluded peacefully today—a significant milestone in our journey to transform Barak Valley into a hub of connectivity and development,” Sarma said in an official statement.
While the peaceful conclusion of the hearing indicates progress, the government did not disclose the specifics of public consensus or objections raised during the consultation process.
The proposed airport is expected to serve as a critical infrastructure project, improving regional connectivity and promoting economic growth in southern Assam. However, the project has faced resistance, particularly from the workers of Doloo Tea Estate, where the airport is slated to be built.
Despite the state government having provided financial assistance to 1,296 affected families as a goodwill gesture, concerns among local tea workers remain unresolved. Represented by the Asom Mojuri Shramik Union (AMSU), workers have demanded either the return of the land acquired for the project or the allocation of equivalent land for tea cultivation elsewhere.
The AMSU has reiterated its opposition to the project in its current form, highlighting the impact on livelihoods and the heritage of the tea estate, one of the oldest in the region.
Chief Minister Sarma acknowledged the stakeholders’ cooperation and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to balancing development with social responsibility. However, with local resistance still strong, the road ahead for the Doloo Airport project may require further negotiations and consensus-building.
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