Silchar: The Assam government has approved the transfer of 3,000 bighas of land at Doloo Tea Estate in Cachar district to the Airports Authority of India for the construction of a greenfield airport near Silchar. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision after a cabinet meeting on Sunday.

The allocation marks an increase of 500 bighas from the earlier plan of 2,500 bighas. The proposed airport is expected to ease pressure on the existing Kumbhirgram airport, a defence facility with no provision for expansion despite rising passenger traffic. With the land cleared, the state can now seek final approval from the Union Cabinet.

Doloo Tea Estate had earlier been at the centre of protests from garden workers over land acquisition. The government reiterated that there will be no evictions or loss of livelihood, and said financial support has already been extended to affected families.

The cabinet also cleared several other proposals. Land allotment for 1,200 families under Mission Basundhara was approved, along with a Rs 243 crore aerospace and defence education project at Assam Engineering College in partnership with Dassault Systems India Pvt Ltd.

Assam will set up its second Sainik School at Longvaku in Karbi Anglong, a project estimated at Rs 335 crore to be funded jointly by the Ministry of Defence and the state government. Compensation for 884 families affected by land acquisition for a four-lane highway in Dima Hasao was also sanctioned.

The cabinet further approved the Assam Logistics and Warehousing Policy 2025, aimed at strengthening the state’s role as a logistics hub. It also decided to make Assam’s history and geography compulsory for classes 6, 7, and 8, based on recommendations from the committee overseeing implementation of the Assam Accord.

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