Finally, the big day arrives

Akash Ghai

Mohali, September 14

The airport is all set to go international tomorrow evening with the maiden flight of Air India Express to Sharjah.

The long wait will end at 5.15 pm when Air India Express Boeing aircraft 737-800 arrives here from Sharjah at 5.15 pm. It will take off after an hour at 6.15 pm tomorrow. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with his delegation, comprising eight ministers and nine senior officers, will be present at the airport to head at least three ceremonies ahead of the take-off.

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Sukhbir will address a press conference at the arrival lounge of the airport. It will be followed by a cake-cutting ceremony before giving boarding passes to the passengers, who will be part of the historic journey. The Punjab Government delegation, led by Sukbir, will also be on the flight.

3.15-hour flight

The flight will take 3.15 hours to reach its destination, Sharjah, at 8 pm (Gulf time). The time difference between India and Sharjah is 1.30 hours. The flight departure from Sharjah to Chandigarh will be at 12.45 pm (local time) and it will arrive in Chandigarh at 5.15 pm.

Security being beefed up 

To meet the international standards of security at the airport, the Punjab Police have approved an additional force of 200 personnel. A dedicated police station, having nearly 20 policemen, on the airport premises is already functional. Besides, the CISF, which has about 300 personnel to guard the premises, has also increased its strength. Mohali SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who was present at the airport to take stock of the arrangements for tomorrow’s programme, said the additional force of 200 personnel and five new vehicles would be deputed at the airport soon. “The process is under way. The airport is being guarded by the CISF, well-equipped commandos of the Punjab Police and other staff with top-class coordination,” said the SSP.    

Immigration counters set up

To facilitate international passengers, the authorities have set up 12 immigration counters, six each at the arrival and departure arenas, at the airport.   

MIA to hold car rally

The Mohali Industries Association (MIA) has planned to hold a car rally from its office to the airport to make the moment memorable. 

A five-member delegation of the association will also travel on the first flight to be part of the historic moment.   

186-seater aircraft packed to capacity

The Air India Express 186-seater aircraft (all economy class seats) will fly to capacity.

“All seats have been booked for the flight on Thursday. The response to international flights is encouraging,” said sources at the airport. Passengers will be served food boxes and tea/coffee free of cost on the flight.

Fly to Sharjah thrice a week 

The Air India Express flights to Sharjah will be thrice a week -- Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Initially, the cost of the return ticket is Rs 9,500. 

City-Dubai flights from September 26

IndiGo will start its operations from September 26 with its daily non-stop flights from Chandigarh to Dubai. The return fare is Rs 9,999. 

Airport yet to get a name

Over a year has passed since the airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 11 last year, but it is yet to gets a name even though international flights are starting from Thursday. There were differences between Punjab, Chandigarh and Haryana over the final name of the airport. Though the Punjab Government has made up its mind to name the airport after Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, the authorities concerned are yet to reach a consensus in this connection.