Shortage of material for runway repair, HC told

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 25

Uncertainty looms over the completion of runway repair work at the Chandigarh International Airport, following shortage of material. As a petition filed in public interest on making the airport fully operational for international flights came up for resumed hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was informed about the shortage.

Appearing before the High Court Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa, Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal submitted that procurement of aggregate material needed for runway construction was posing a problem.

Elaborating, he said a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal on mining activities in some riverbeds in Haryana had aggravated the problem. The samples collected from Pathankot and Yamunanagar did not withstand the test. He said the material had to be taken from riverbeds of the Ghaggar.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation also presented its feasibility report on the construction of an underpass to the airport from the Zirakpur side. However, the Air Force said it was required to study to the report in view of the sensitivity of its location. The case will now come up for hearing on May 29.

The airport is scheduled to remain closed from May 12 to May 31 for ongoing runway upgrade work. The Indian Air Force had initially requested for the closure of the airport between May 12 and May 31, or May 14 and June 2 for laying final layers during the recarpeting process.

The authorities had claimed that the runway length was being extended from the present 9,000 ft to 10,400 ft to accommodate wide-bodied aircrafts such as Boeing 777, 787 and 747 for facilitating long-haul flights from Chandigarh to destinations in Europe, USA, Canada and the UK.

The matter had reached the High Court after the Mohali Industries Association had filed a petition in public interest, seeking directions to the Union of India to submit a status report on recarpeting and upgrade of runway.