Ludhiana businessmen seek more international flights from Chandigarh

LUDHIANA: With uncertainty over completion of international airport at Halwara near Ludhiana, city businessmen are now demanding that the state should push the Union government to start more international flights from Chandigarh airport, which has close proximity with the industrial city.
According to the businessmen, work of Ludhiana’s new airport was scheduled to be completed last year, but even now there is no clarity on how many more months it will take to be completed. They are also of the view that as of now only limited flights to Dubai and Sharjah in United Arab Emirates (UAE) are operating from Chandigarh airport and the Centre should increase their frequency along with starting flights on other international routes.
Speaking on the issue, Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), “For years now the entire business fraternity of Ludhiana is waiting eagerly for completion of new airport at Halwara, but the way things are going on it does not seems possible that the work will complete even in one year. City’s business and trade, specially export, is already suffering immensely due to lack of an airport here and despite having huge number of international travellers and air cargo requirements, we have to use New Delhi Airport that is about six hours away from here. Therefore, till the time Ludhiana airport becomes operational, the state government must insist the Centre to start flights for destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia from Chandigarh airport.”
According to Harish Kairpal, president of Ludhiana MSME Association, “Already huge number of Ludhiana businessmen have started using Chandigarh Airport for flying to domestic destinations as this is the most suitable airport for us due to its very close distance to city. But as there are no international flights from Chandigarh Airport except for UAE, a large number of city businessmen have to travel to Delhi airport for catching flights for international destinations like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, London, Paris, and Frankfurt. We urge the Union government to start the flights for other international destinations on trial basis from Chandigarh and if the results are satisfactory, these can be continued.”
Narinder Bhamra, president of Fastener Manufacturers Association of India, said,“As far as international connectivity is concerned, Chandigarh Airport only has one daily flight to Dubai and a flight to Sharjah that operates only twice a week. There is high number of city businessmen who have their offices and companies in UAE and frequently travel to Dubai and Sharjah, but limited frequency of flights to UAE that too with same time slot from Chandigarh Airport does not suits everyone because of which they have to opt for Delhi airport.”