Amritsar-Nanded-Mumbai Air India flight on the cards

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 30

Lok Sabha member Gurjeet Singh Aujla held a meeting with officials at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport here today and discussed the status of ongoing projects.

Aujla said Air India had conducted a survey at the international airport to start Amritsar-Nanded-Mumbai flight. He said officials had assured him that all formalities to start the flight would be completed within 15 days.

Air India’s move will win the hearts of Punjabis and Sikhs living all over the world, as it will provide air connectivity with Sri Hazoor Sahib, Nanded. Aujla added that he was pursuing the case for the completion of the Amritsar-Patna circuit and hoped that it would be completed. The MP said the new flight would be an attraction for international carriers, too. Aujla was back from canvassing in Gujarat for Assembly elections yesterday.

He said he met traders there who want to visit Amritsar for pilgrimage and as tourists, but due to lack of air connectivity often abandon the idea. Aujla said he would request Air India to consider conducting a survey for Amritsar-Ahmedabad-Mumbai, Amritsar-Srinagar, Amritsar-London-Toronto, Amritsar-Singapore and other circuits and begin these operations. He added that these links would not only cover the losses of the Amritsar airport, but would also do the same for Air India as Amritsar had a huge footfall of tourists. He also thanked Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju for this move.