Mohali airport likely to take off fast

Chandigarh: The civil aviation sector in Punjab seems ready to take off with the Centre today agreeing to expedite the clearances for Mohali International Airport, consider 'positively' the state's plea for allowing 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 the state.

The Centre and the Airport Authority of India have given their in-principle approval for the international airport.

While Bathinda air linkage assumes significance in the light of the work on the Guru Gobind Singh Bathinda Refinery gaining momentum and the setting up of a world-class cricket stadium there, the state government's renewed efforts to get a civilian terminal in the NRI heartland at Adampur in Doaba comes 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 today called on the Union Defence Minister A K Antony in this regard urged him to ensure an early issuance of a no objection certificate (NOC) to the 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 project has been finalised. The MoU is likely to be signed as soon as the basic formalities for 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.

Badal also 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 length of approximately 7,000 feet, besides catering to the needs of the new oil refinery and the proposed petro chemical hub coming up nearby.

He also demanded a speedy action for establishing the Indian National Defence University in Punjab as the high powered committee from the MoD had already visited and inspected a 300-acre site in Mohali for the proposed university.