Majuli, Assam — A six-member team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Tuesday carried out a preliminary feasibility survey across Majuli to evaluate locations for a proposed airport on the river island, officials reported. The proposal is one of four new airport projects announced earlier this year by the Assam government to bolster air connectivity across the state.
Survey inspects sites from Jengraimukh to Darbar Chapori
The AAI delegation included three deputy general manager-level officers — Sanjay Kaur, Khushiyal Singh and Parvinder Tiwari — along with AGM Gaurav Kumar, Manager Rohan Maheshwari and Assistant Manager Suresh Kumar. During the visit, they examined several potential sites stretching from Jengraimukh to Darbar Chapori in the Kamalabari area.
Majuli Deputy Commissioner Ratul Chandra Pathak and officials from the district administration, police, transport and forest departments accompanied the AAI team, providing local inputs on land availability, connectivity and environmental considerations.
"The IIA Competent Authority has arrived in Majuli today for the proposal for the airport in Majuli. We have shown them different places where it is convenient. They have explained to us what the technical work should be like," said Majuli Deputy Commissioner Ratul Chandra Pathak.
The deputy commissioner added that the AAI had indicated a runway site requirement of approximately 3 km in length and 500–600 metres in width, but cautioned that detailed technical and data-driven studies would determine the final location. "Can't say for sure about the current location, as a lot of data is required," he was reported as saying.
Why an airport in Majuli matters
Majuli, the world's largest river island, lies in the Brahmaputra and has unique geographic and ecological characteristics. Improved air connectivity is expected to:
- Reduce travel time for residents, tourists and scholars visiting cultural sites and satras (Vaishnavite monasteries).
- Improve access for emergency medical evacuations and disaster response during monsoon floods and riverbank erosion events.
- Support local economic activity by facilitating tourism and faster movement of goods and services to the mainland.
State authorities have previously flagged that Majuli’s vulnerability to erosion and seasonal flooding demands resilient infrastructure planning. Any airport proposal will need to factor in hydrological studies, soil stability, and approach-path safety given the island’s riverine environment.
Next steps: technical studies and data collection
The AAI team did not provide an on-the-record statement at the conclusion of the preliminary survey. Officials described Tuesday’s visit as an initial, site-suitability assessment. The deputy commissioner said the AAI had outlined the technical groundwork required and that district authorities would facilitate follow-up studies and data collection.
According to the survey briefings, the immediate tasks likely to follow include:
- Detailed topographical and hydrological surveys;
- Land availability assessments and clearances from forest and environment authorities where required;
- Connectivity planning to link any selected site with road and river transport nodes on the island and the mainland.
State-level airport expansion drive
The Majuli proposal forms part of a broader Assam government initiative to expand regional air infrastructure. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had in February announced four new airport projects aimed at strengthening intra-state and inter-state connectivity, aligning with the state’s development and tourism objectives.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| AAI team composition | Sanjay Kaur, Khushiyal Singh, Parvinder Tiwari, Gaurav Kumar, Rohan Maheshwari, Suresh Kumar |
| Survey area | Jengraimukh to Darbar Chapori (Kamalabari) |
| Runway requirement (indicative) | ~3 km long, 500–600 m wide |
Local residents and stakeholders have expressed cautious optimism since the announcement of the airport project, viewing improved air links as a potential catalyst for sustainable tourism and better access to services. However, experts and community leaders have also emphasised the need for environmental safeguards and detailed impact assessments before any land acquisition or construction begins.
For Majuli — an island with distinct cultural heritage and ecological sensitivities — planners will need to balance developmental aspirations with measures to mitigate erosion, habitat disturbance and the long-term safety of infrastructure.
The preliminary AAI survey is a significant administrative step; further feasibility reports, technical clearances and environmental studies will determine whether and how the proposed airport moves beyond the planning stage.
Reporting from Majuli; local administration provided details of the survey and technical parameters.
