Mohali international airport will prove graveyard for Amritsar airport

Amritsar: Amritsar Vikas Manch (NGO) has demanded the postponement of Mohali airport in the interest of Amritsar international airport .
Manch Patron Dr. Charanjit Singh Gumtala in a submissive to Chief Minister Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, President Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal, Information and Public Relation Minister Punjab Bikram Singh Majithia, Member Parliament Navjot Singh Sidhu, has said that the Mohali international airport will prove graveyard for Amritsar Rajasansi airport as there is not enough international traffic from Punjab to maintain two International airports in the state.
Gumtala said that as per policy of the Airport authority of India, the second international airport will be taken up only if enough independent traffic is created by that airport without disturbing the traffic at the existing airports. The Mohali airport will harm the future growth of Amritsar International Airport. So, keeping in view the world wide religious, historical and tourism importance of Amritsar it is the religious and moral duty of the Akali govt. to defer the scheme of Mohali Airport for 10-15 years, he added Gumtala argued that 3 to 5 times bigger states than Punjab, like Andhra Pradesh, Karnatka, Tamil Nadu, West Bangal, Maharashtra have only one International Airport each. A small state like Punjab does not require second International Airport. It is not necessary to have more than one international Airport in the state for development and better connectivity. No where in India,two International airport exits in such a little distance as are Mohali and Amritsar .He claimed that Mohali International Airport if came into existence will promote the flight of Punjab industry to Baddi and other adjoining areas of Himachal and Haryana. In this way Mohali Airport will be more beneficial for Haryana and Himachal more than Punjab state.
Gumtala said that it is very unfortunate for the Akali government that Jet and Singapore airlines which started their operations from Amritsar airport in the tenure of Captain Amrinder Singh are withdrawing these flights.The present traffic scenario shows that with the total international traffic of Punjab, only one International Airport can run successfully. With the Mohali Airport, the total traffic will be divided and both these will became white elephants.
12/12/08 Jagmohan Singh/PunjabNewsline.com

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Categories: Airports Dec 2008, New Dec 2008