Punjab: Before the Ludhiana by-election, Halwara Airport was a hot political issue, with politicians vying for credit for fulfilling a long-pending demand from the business community. However, after the elections, the project has once again been put on hold, and it’s unclear when the airport will finally be operational. Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Industries, Ravneet Singh Bittu, tweeted yesterday that he had reviewed the progress and operational status of Halwara International Airport with officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. He stated that the delay was due to local issues, as the Public Works Department (PWD) had not yet completed some drainage work. The PWD has reportedly promised to complete the work within a week. Bittu further stated that after the airport is handed over, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security will issue the necessary security clearances.
The Punjab government has already shared a list of 58 security personnel who will receive five days of training. Bittu said, “Once all approvals are in place, the inauguration is expected soon.” Meanwhile, media reports suggest that a high-level meeting will be held in Delhi on September 26th between AAI officials, district administration, and state government representatives to discuss the issue. However, local officials said they had received no information about such a meeting. When asked about the situation, Punjab Industries Minister Sanjeev Arora said, “The decision on operations will be taken by the Airports Authority of India. The state government has already completed its work, and whatever minor work remains will be completed in the coming days.” However, industrialists are disappointed. The president of a major industry association said, “With much fanfare, it was promised that the airport would be operational within a few days. Now, it has been more than two months, and there is still no clarity on the exact reason for the delay or its opening date.”
Punjab: Uncertainty continues over Halwara airport operations
