Chandigarh airport expansion plan grounded for want of land

Chandigarh: With the process of land-transfer moving at a snail’s pace, the Chandigarh Airport’s modernisation and expansion plans have been delayed by almost a year now. It was on February 15, that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had requested for 5.1 acres of Army land through the UT Administration.
UT officials entrusted with the task of land acquisition are blaming the Army for the delay. The Army officials, on the other hand, say they are waiting for the final approval from the Ministry of Defence.
The project, which was to be completed by March 2009, does not seem possible now.
An official of the UT Administration’s land acquisition department told Newsline that 5.1 acres were required for the expansion of the existing apron at the Chandigarh airport. In lieu of this, a plot measuring 5.1 acres in Hallomajra had been offered to the Army.
While the Army denied any dispute, UT officials said the presence of a road passing through the land offered at Hallomajra was the actual cause of the delay. The Army has reportedly raised objections to this road that intersects the land and has demanded an alternative.
An Army spokesperson said the case is with the Central government. “Approval for the transfer is awaited from the Ministry of Defence. The final decision would be taken by the ministry,” he said.
Another factor that is delaying the expansion plans, according to Airport Director Sunil Dutt, is an additional one-acre land for the widening of the link road. “It has been some time since we requested for the land to widen the link road, but have not received any positive response from the Army authorities,” said Dutt.
12/12/08 RituSharma/ExpressIndia

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Categories: Airports Dec 2008