Airport to be ready for April 10 deadline

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29

The Punjab and Haryana High Court was today told that the Chandigarh International Airport will operate 24x7 from April 10. Air India (AI) too will launch a flight to Delhi between 6 am and 7 am for onward journey to 15 international destinations. To begin with, 31 flights will take off from March 31. The number will go up to 38 from May 1.

The Bench was also told that CAT-II instrument landing system, would also be installed by then. The CAT-III system, required to land in the wintry-foggy conditions, would be installed by July end.

As the case came up for resumed hearing before the Division Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli, Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal told the Bench that even though the work of installing the CAT II was postponed from March 31 to April 10, the stake holders tried their best to protect the interest of the airlines.

As such, the Al flight will land from Delhi at 6.35 am in Chandigarh and depart at 7. 05 am. It was expected to provide connectivity to 15 international and 16 domestic flights.

The Bench was also told that Vistara had sought time in the evening for operations from April on the Chandigarh-Delhi route. A Vistara flight would depart from Delhi at about 6 pm and at about 7 pm from Chandigarh. But, it had agreed to depart from Chandigarh at 6 pm till April 9.

During the course of hearing, two affidavits were also placed before the Bench. Among other things, it was stated that the work of installing the CAT II system was being carried out by TATA SED.

To make the night operations on the existing runway, the firm had agreed to complete the installation by March 31 so that the operations could start with effect from April 1.

However, on account of unforeseen circumstances and inclement weather conditions, smooth progress of the work was hampered, said Mittal. All efforts were made by the Air Force as well as TATA SED to achieve the target, he added.

“But, keeping in view the larger public interest, and to avoid any cancellations, the Air Force has issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) for the start of the night operation from April 10,” he said.

“Keeping in view the latest status as existing on March 28, the work as assured by the TATA SED will be completed on the targeted date of April 9 with the efforts of Air Force and the MES,” he added.