The government of Mizoram is moving ahead with plans to hand over control of Lengpui Airport to the Indian Air Force (IAF). This decision was made during a cabinet meeting on October 16, 2024. 

Under the direction of Chairman TBC Lalvenchhunga, the Working Committee on Lengpui Airport is presently preparing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the IAF. Under the proposed plan, the Indian Air Force (IAF) will be responsible for maintaining the airport's runway and air traffic control, while the state government will continue to manage other parts of the airport. The Working Committee is expected to hold detailed discussions and submit a report within the next three months. This plan has faced strong opposition from various groups. 

The NGO Coordination Committee, which represents important civil society organisations in the state, issued a statement on August 9, 2024, opposing the handover. The committee, including groups like CYMA, MHIP, MUP, MZP, and MSU, voiced concerns about losing control of what they believe is one of Mizoram’s most valuable assets. Moreover, political opposition has been outspoken. Lal Thanzara, the president of the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee, criticised the government's decision on January 17 and brought attention to the state's financial difficulties. 

“The current government has a debt of over Rs 3,000 crores, and last year alone, they borrowed Rs 3,393 crores. It is unfortunate that they are planning to hand over Lengpui Airport, a facility that was built with Rs 979 crores from the Congress ministry to the IAF,” he said. The uproar over the decision is still growing as the government gets ready to carry out the handover, with both political parties and non-governmental organisations demanding that the proposal be reexamined.