International airport: Dispute over name uncalled for : The Tribune India

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International airport: Dispute over name uncalled for

RASHI SRIVASTAVA:Punjab and Haryana have made equal contribution to the construction of the international airport in Mohali.

International airport: Dispute over name uncalled for

An Air India flight from Sharjah receives a water salute at the Chandigarh international airport in Mohali on Thursday. a file photograph



Punjab and Haryana have made equal contribution to the construction of the international airport in Mohali. The compromise made by both states can only be measured by how it achieves the desired result. So, the airport should be named as the Chandigarh International Airport, Mohali, in the national interest.

Ajit Singh, Rankin, Windsor (Canada)


Name it after Chandigarh 

Even as the first international flight took off for Sharjah from the airport in Mohali on Thursday, Punjab and Haryana continue to spar over its name. The airport is managed by Chandigarh International Airport Limited so it should be named after Chandigarh, which is the joint capital of the states. People should not have any problem in calling it by that name.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh


More important issues for states to tackle  

It was good to see that after a long wait, the international airport started functioning. However, neighbouring states are creating a fuss over its name. Its name hardly matters. People only want world-class facilities. Chandigarh is a Union Territory and the neighbouring states should tackle other serious and important issues. 

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh


Politicians lack vision 

The controversy over the name of the airport stole the sheen of the first international flight from the airport to Sharjah. Raking up the issue during the take off of the flight after an inordinately delay reflects politicians’ sick mentality and lack of vision.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh


States should mind their own business

As elections are drawing near in Punjab, political leaders are busy taking credit of every major achievement. Neighbouring states should mind their own business.  The international airport in Mohali should be named after Chandigarh as it is a well-planned city. Being a famous tourist place, tourists would pour in.

Rashi Srivastava, Chandigarh


Unnecessary controversy

Politicians create controversies on one or other issues. Though the airport is located in Mohali, Haryana too has contributed funds for its construction. Moreover, Chandigarh is on the global map. It has a distinct identity. It is a modern and well-planned city of India. The airport should be named after it. 

KKK Mohan, Chandigarh


Avoidable debate

A trivial issue have been converted into a full-fledged controversy by Punjab and Haryana. Changing names is the favourite game of political parties. Recently, Race Course Road in News Delhi was renamed as Lok Kalyan Marg. Though the international airport is located in Mohali, the allied services like ATC are located in Chandigarh. Logically, it should be called as the Chandigarh international airport.

Wg Cdr JS Bhalla (retd)


Haryana should accept naming of airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh

Lack vision, we remain confined to geographical boundaries. Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for the freedom of India, not for Punjab. The narrow-mindedness of Haryana over the issue merely regionalises the great martyr’s role. Haryana should welcome the proposal of naming the airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. 

MPS Chadha, Mohali


Don’t politicise issue

The original name, Chandigarh Airport, should be acceptable to all as it represents all stakeholders. The name is well-known all over the world and has an immediate impact. Politicians should take pride in the opening of the international airport but  they are indulging in vote bank politics. We should work for the betterment of the airport instead of politicising the issue.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma


Provide services at affordable rates

The starting of the international flight from Mohali to  Sharjah should be celebrated as a glorious achievement. This long-pending demand of the residents has been translated into a reality due to collective efforts of Punjab and Haryana. The functioning of the airport should be conducive for business, educational and tourism sectors. Services at the airport should be provided at affordable rates. 

Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali


Form panel to evolve consensus   

Kudos to the Punjab and Haryana High Court for making the international airport a reality. The starting of international flights is a big achievement for the region. However, there is a controversy regarding the name of the airport. A committee should be constituted by Punjab and Haryana, along with the Airports Authority of India, to evolve a consensus on this issue.

Nikita Kapur, Chandigarh


Immaterial for people

The controversy over the name of the airport is immaterial for passengers. Political parties just want to get political mileage out of it. Instead of dragging the issue for long, both states should forge a consensus over it. 

AS Ahuja, Chandigarh


Don’t rake up the issue

The airport at Mohali should be named after Chandigarh. If Haryana and Punjab are comfortable with the joint capital, then difference over the name of the airport seem unreasonable. Both states have contributed for the development of the airport. Raking up the issue is not in people’s interest.

Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh


Stop confusing people

Finally, Chandigarh has come on the global map with the opening of the airport. People are proud of it but the controversy over its name refused to die down. Misleading advertisements by the Punjab Government are creating confusion. It is also the root cause of the dispute. Moreover, the airport should be named after the place where it is situated. An airport caters to requirements of people of the whole country, not particular state.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula


Use collective wisdom  

It is time to celebrate the commencement of international flights from the airport. While it is a good news for residents of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana, it will also create employment opportunities for the youth of the region. Political leaders of both Punjab and Haryana should reach a consensus by using their collective wisdom over the issue. 

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh


Focus on basic amenities 

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh should feel proud of the international airport. Instead of sparring over its name, both states should make efforts for the commencement of international flights to other countries. The focus should be on the development of the airport and improvement in basic facilities. Naming it after Shaheed Bhagat Singh will be most appropriate.

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali


Irrelevant issue 

Chandigarh is the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Both should work for the welfare of the city. In the absence of any agenda, the ruling parties try to divert attention to such irrelevant issues. Name the airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. it will be a suitable name for it. Even Haryana is fine with it. 

Bijil Baby


Proud moment for area residents  

It is indeed a proud moment for resident of the area. Residents of Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh will be benefited by it. Politicians never think of the condition of the public services. They will always find ways and means to get political mileage out of such issues. Can the name of the airport change its status?

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali 


Haryana’s claim unjustified 

Haryana’s contention of giving the airport the name of its choice is not right as it is located in a town of Punjab. Therefore, there is no need to politicise the issue and the authority concerned should itself resolve the issue without getting influenced by political gimmicks. It came be named as the Tricity International Airport, if the matter remains undecided.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali


Name should be easily recognisable  

I do not understand why Punjab and Haryana are sparring over the minor issue. They should understand that the name of the airport should be recognised all over the world. I am of the firm opinion that it must be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. 

Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra


Name it after Chandigarh 

To end the controversy, I suggest that it should be named as the Chandigarh International Airport as this will be the most appropriate thing. No one should have any objection to it.

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh


Everything is in name 

Naming the airport may seems to be a petty issue but it is important. All important establishments in the country or all over the world carry some identification. In this case, to satisfy all stakeholders, it can be called Chandigarh-Mohali Bhagat Singh International Airport. Other alternatives can be ChanMoh or PanChanHarya Bhagat Singh airport.

Tejinder Singh Kalra, Mohali


Ball in Centre’s court

The Prime Minister had inaugurated the new terminal of international airport in Mohali almost a year ago. The international operations has also been started. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had asked the Airports Authority of India about the facilities being provided at the airport. The name of the international airport should be named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh. The Punjab and Haryana Governments have given their consent to it but the Centre’s nod is awaited.

M Lal Garg, Chandigarh  


Hope good sense prevails on politicos! 

 comment | Nitin Jain

IN what appears to be another inter-state dispute in the making, a war of words has ensued between Punjab and Haryana over the yet-to-be-named international airport in Mohali. While Punjab, in whose territory the Rs 1,400-crore joint venture facility is located, keeps calling it Mohali international airport, Haryana keeps strutting about it.

Even as Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, who graced the taking off of the first international flight from this airport almost a year after its inauguration, made it clear that no name had yet been finalised for the airport, Punjab and Haryana Chief Ministers and politicians do not let go off any opportunity to stake their right to name the airport.

In this sparring, leaders of the BJP in the two states seem to forget that they not only share power in Punjab but also lead the alliance at the Centre. Instead of taking pride in having the much-needed facility for the region after years of struggle and acquisition of over 300 acres, the neighbouring states seem inclined to add the airport to their long list of inter-state disputes.

Be it Chandigarh, Punjabi-speaking areas in Haryana or river waters, Punjab and Haryana have not been able to reach a consensus and the successive governments at the Centre have done little to help solve the inter-state disputes.

“Punjab and Haryana are apparently not included in the category of preferred states. Rather, the two states and their capital are treated as a colony. The step-motherly treatment was not evident just in the airport case”. These scathing remarks by a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently on the case to make the airport fully functional only adds credence to the Centre’s apathy towards Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.

With such categorical assertion coming from none other than senior judges, it is high time that politicians of Punjab and Haryana sit together and resolve the long-pending issues once for all. Hope the voice of sanity finds willing ears!  

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