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CHANDIGARH: The Civil Aviation sector in Punjab appeared set for a take off with the centre today agreeing to speed up clearances for the Mohali International Airport, consider "positively" the state's plea for allowing a civil terminals at Adampur and Bhisiana (Bathinda) airports and support the state's efforts for setting up flying clubs and pilot and cabin crew academies in Punjab. The Government of India and the Airport Authority of India have already given their "in principle" approval to the International Airport.
While Bathinda air linkage assumes significance in the light of the work on Guru Gobind Singh Bathinda Refinery gaining momentum and the setting up of a world class Cricket Stadium there, Punjab government's renewed efforts to get a civilian terminal in the NRI heartland at Adampur in Doaba come in the wake of the state's latest initiatives concerning Punjabis living abroad. Incidentally, a Punjabi NRI Sammelan is being held in Chandigarh and Jalandhar early next month. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal called on the Union Defence Minister A.K. Antony in this connection in New Delhi this morning and urged him get to ensure an early issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) to International Airport project. The clearance for the landing of civilian international flights is necessary as the project is contiguous to the Air Force station in Chandigarh for using its airstrip Most of these clearances relate to the Ministry of Defence. It may be recalled here that a Memorandum of Understanding between the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Punjab Government for this prestigious project had already been finalized. The MoU is likely to be signed as soon as the basic formalities on acquisition are completed. The Chief Minister also sought the Defence Ministry's go ahead for the extension of the runway to 10,500 feet, building a parallel taxi-way and shifting of the Missile site.
The Chief Minister pointed out that international flights could start operating from the present airstrip if the Government of India agreed to extend watch hours at Air Force Station Chandigarh from 6pm to 10 pm. The Chief Minister also asked Antony to grant the NOC expeditiously for up-gradation and extension of Sahnewal Airport runway to approximately 8000 feet. Badal impressed upon Antony to give permission for Civil Terminals at IAF Station Bhisiana in Bathinda district and Adampur in Jalandhar district on the pattern of similar civil terminals already set-up at Air Force Station at Pathankot and Chandigarh. Badal urged Antony to give necessary clearances to the state government's proposal to provide flying training facilities to the youth at Talwandi Sabo with a proposed runway lengthy of approximately 7000 feet besides catering to the needs of the new Oil Refinery and proposed Petro Chemical Hub coming up nearby. He also demanded an expeditious action for establishing Indian National Defence University in Punjab as the high powered committee from MoD had already visited and inspected a 300 acre site in Mohali for the proposed University. The Chief Minister also asked the MoD to develop Jagatjit Palace,at Kapurthala as a Heritage Destination and allowing to display War Trophies in the proposed Defence Pavilion in Pushpa Gujral Science City, Kapurthala. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Member Parliament Sukhbir Singh Badal, Media Advisor to Chief Minister Harcharan Bains, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister D.S.Guru, K.J.S. Cheema Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Gagandeep Singh Brar Additional Principal Secretary. |
