Manch seeks more int’l flights from city

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 2

The Sri Guru Ram Dass International Airport here is getting a step motherly treatment from the SAD-led state government as well as the BJP-led Central Government.

Making the allegations, Kulwant Singh, president, Ankhi Amritsar Vikas Manch, an NGO, said the government was focused to get international flights from Mohali rather than Amritsar despite the latter’s reputation as a global tourist destination.

“The Amritsar airport is second only to the Delhi airport, having world class facilities, including 12,000-ft longest runway equal to the Delhi airport with the Cat III B-ILS System, which would be functional from March 2017, an ultramodern terminal building and 1400 acres for future expansion. The airport is not receiving a positive response from the state as well as the Central governments,” he said in a statement released today.

He said the present government did nothing to resume the Amritsar-London-Toronto flight which was suspended in 2009 by Air India despite being the most successful flight in the annals of the Air India’s history.

Citing a report, he said the Amritsar airport received 12.50 lakh passengers in 2015-2016. In the first half of 2016, the increase of passengers at the Amritsar airport was more than 40 per cent.

“In June 2016, international passengers at the Amritsar airport were 1.25 lakh as compared to June 2015, showing an increase of 59.6 per cent. From April to June 2015, the number of passengers were 69,507 while this year the number of passengers increased to 1,10,916. This shows that Amritsar has great potential.” he said.

He insisted that more international flights connecting parts of Canada, the US, the UK and Australia, where thick population of Punjabis reside, should be commenced form the city for easy connectivity and boosting tourism potential.