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Punjab cabinet approves new international civil terminal at Halwara in Ludhiana

Kashmir Times. Dated: 12/4/2018 1:38:49 PM

CHANDIGARH, Dec 3 (Agencies): In what is likely to give a big boost to industrial and economic activities in the state, the Punjab Cabinet on Monday approved the setting up of a new international civil terminal at Indian Air Force (IAF) Station in Halwara in Ludhiana.
During his previous stint as the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh had demanded the Centre to set up an international civil terminal in Ludhiana. However, the matter kept pending as it awaited clearance from the Centre.
During the meeting of the Cabinet, the Amarinder Singh government also gave a go-ahead for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the same.
The proposed international Civil Terminal would be developed jointly by the AAI and the Government of Punjab through a Joint Venture Company (JVC) which would be constituted for the purpose, a spokesperson of Punjab Chief Minister’s Office said.
The first phase of the project, which will include the development of a new international civil enclave, is likely to be completed within three years.
The project is expected to give a big boost to the economic development of Ludhiana city which is also seen as Punjab’s business and industrial hub.
The setting up of a new international civil terminal in Ludhiana assumes significance since it is Punjab’s largest industrial and business city with a population of nearly two million.
The city is presently serviced by a small airport at Sahnewal, which comes under the operational control of AAI, and operates RCS-UDAN flights to Delhi.
However, the air connectivity is limited since the length of the runway at the Sahnewal airport allows operation of only small aircraft.