Mohali to go international

New Delhi: Punjab will soon have its second international airport at Mohali, adjoining Chandigarh. Till recently, the Punjab government was opposed to the idea as it believed that since Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh would also benefit from the airport, it would be unwise to bear the land cost alone. The Mohali airport project covers more than 300 acres and its estimated cost is more than Rs 450 crore.
The airport logjam was cleared when Punjab chief minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal called on the Union civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel, here yesterday evening. Senior civil aviation ministry officials said an agreement has been worked out where all the adjoining states, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Chandigarh, would contribute to procure the airport land. A senior official at the Resident Commissioner’s Office of the Punjab government here said the Centre, too, has assured financial help for the land procurement. The Punjab government and the Airport Authorities of India will sign a memorandum of understanding in Chandigarh on 4 January for the Mohali airport. Mr Patel and Mr Badal will jointly lay the foundation stone. While the fund-sharing arrangement between the states is yet to be worked out, the Punjab government has reportedly begun acquiring land.
28/12/07 Sanjay Singh/The Statesman

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Categories: Airports Dec 2007, New Dec 2007