Upgraded airports to make Punjab key biz and tourist hub

With the commencement of international flights from the Mohali airport, domestic flights from Sahnewal airport (Ludhiana) and upgrade of its main one in Amritsar by 2010, Punjab is all set to be one of the key destinations in South Asia for tourists and businessmen.

Expressing satisfaction over signing of the Joint Venture (JV) for Mohali airport, state Deputy Chief Minister Sukbir Singh Badal said today in an official statement that this milestone would make the state one of the finest and most easily accessible tourist as well as business hub in South Asia.

He said starting of international flights from Mohali would have an economic multiplier effect on the whole of north India besides propelling the state into the zone of international trade and commerce.

He said that work on the upgrade of tarmac, taxiway and civil lounge building had already begun and domestic flights from Mohali airport would start from June 2010 while the facilities at the international airport in Amritsar will be upgraded simultaneously.

The Punjab government on Thursday signed a JV agreement for the formation of a JV company to undertake the project between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Haryana government through Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) at the Ministry of Civil Aviation headquarters in New Delhi.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the three parties on January 4, 2009 for the development of the Mohali international airport, with 51 per cent of equity share of the Centre and 24.5 per cent each of Punjab and Haryana governments.

Badal said after getting permission for its up grade as a domestic airport, night landing facilities have been installed on the Sahnewal airport airstrip.

He said that domestic flight from this airport would start operating from December this year, fulfiling the much needed requirement of industry in Ludhiana.

Badal said that defence authorities had also approved operation of domestic flights from Bhisiana, that would be useful to the people of Malwa region and also tap increasing traffic to Bathinda after the starting of work on HPCL-Mittal Petro Chemical hub and refinery.