Chandigarh International airport project takes off slowly

It is going to be a long wait before an international status could be accorded to the Chandigarh airport. Though the announcement in this regard has raised the expectations of the frequent air-travellers, the development would not be before 2011. That too, if all goes smoothly, say officials. Airport Controller of the Civil Air Terminal Chandigarh Suneel Dutt said that even if the Punjab Government hands over the required land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) by next month, it would take the authorities minimum of five years to convert it into an airport of international standards. “We haven’t got the land yet. And till we get the land to start the work, how can we complete it? It takes five to six years to build an airport of this magnitude,” said Dutt. He said that the project is Punjab governments ‘baby’ and the land and its material cost will be borne by the state government, while AAI would merely construct it. Principal Secretary of Industries, Punjab government, SC Aggarwal agreed that the government is not in a position to provide the land at once and the process will take some time.

“The proposal for the international airport stands, but nothing concrete has been decided as of now,” Aggarwal said. “The Punjab government visualised the international airport and approached the AAI to execute it, as they have the expertise,’’ said Aggarwal. Following which, a team of experts from civil aviation ministry visited the site and met the Principal Secretary of Punjab, appraising him about the requirement of 300 acres of land. Subsequent follow-up meetings were also held and the economic viability of the project was discussed. “However, nothing concrete has been decided. A fast-track approach to the airport is also to be considered along with getting a clearance from the Ministry of Defence, as the current terminal is adjacent to the air force land,’’ said one of the officials. With a railway track, defence installment and Chandigarh city on the three sides, the logical expansion of the airport has to be on the Mohali side. “This has been decided on, but the land is yet to be identified,’’ said Deputy Commissioner of SAS Nagar Tejveer Singh.

“ We are considering various options. The viability of acquiring the land in regard to the displacement factor, the price of the land etc are being looked into. Once the land is zeroed down upon, notification would be issued,” Tejinder added, stressing that the government is serious about the project and the formalities ould be completed soon. As for how ‘soon’, only time will tell.

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