MP Aujla criticises state govt over ‘neglect’ of city airport

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s proposal to increase the number of flights from the Mohali airport has triggered sharp criticism in the holy city of Amritsar, with local MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla accusing the state government of “sidelining” a city that already enjoys global recognition.

Aujla said, while promoting Mohali was not wrong, focusing exclusively on it amounted to serious injustice to Amritsar. “Amritsar is not an emerging city that needs to be introduced to the world. It already has a strong international presence,” he said, adding that the city was home to the Golden Temple, the supreme shrine of Sikhism, which attracted millions of visitors from India across and abroad every year.

Aujla said, despite being a major centre of religious and heritage tourism, and having a large NRI footprint, Amritsar continued to be neglected when it came to the expansion of air services.

He added that Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport was Punjab’s busiest and most important international airport, providing vital connectivity to NRIs in the UK, Canada, Europe, the US and Gulf countries.

The MP said he had repeatedly raised demands pertaining to Amritsar airport at various platforms, including the Parliament and Airport Advisory Committee meetings.

These included the introduction of more direct international flights, better domestic connectivity and expansion of airport infrastructure to meet future passenger demand, he added, highlighting the need for direct flights to destinations such as London, Canada and other European centres, along with domestic routes of religious and social importance.

Aujla said ignoring Amritsar while demanding more flights for Mohali reflected a disregard for Punjab’s geographical, religious and economic realities.

“Weakening Amritsar means weakening Punjab’s international image and economic potential,” he said, urging the state government to place the Amritsar airport at the centre of its aviation policy.