Chandigarh: It is an international airport being developed by two states in partnership with the Centre, an extension of the existing domestic airport in their common capital, but its name hasn't yet been settled in the five years since they signed the agreement.
Nearly a dozen names have been proposed over the years but each has run into opposition from either Punjab or Haryana, if not both. The debate was rekindled recently after Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh proposed a name he hoped would be acceptable to both, but Punjab has since suggested an alternative that Haryana has instantly rejected.
The airport is under construction on 306 acres in Jheorehri village of Mohali, adjacent to Chandigarh city. The Chandigarh domestic airport will lend its runway space to the international airport. Punjab insists on including Mohali in the name and Haryana on keeping it out. Mohali is part of Punjab.
"As far as Haryana is concerned there is no controversy over the name. Since it is a joint venture of Punjab and Haryana, only 'Chandigarh' is acceptable," says S S Dhillon, principal secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister.
06/09/13 Chitleen K Sethi/Indian Express
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Nearly a dozen names have been proposed over the years but each has run into opposition from either Punjab or Haryana, if not both. The debate was rekindled recently after Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh proposed a name he hoped would be acceptable to both, but Punjab has since suggested an alternative that Haryana has instantly rejected.
The airport is under construction on 306 acres in Jheorehri village of Mohali, adjacent to Chandigarh city. The Chandigarh domestic airport will lend its runway space to the international airport. Punjab insists on including Mohali in the name and Haryana on keeping it out. Mohali is part of Punjab.
"As far as Haryana is concerned there is no controversy over the name. Since it is a joint venture of Punjab and Haryana, only 'Chandigarh' is acceptable," says S S Dhillon, principal secretary to the Haryana Chief Minister.
06/09/13 Chitleen K Sethi/Indian Express
