Alternative road to Chandigarh airport to be completed by December: Punjab to HC

Alternative road to the Chandigarh airport is all set to take-off by year-end. The Punjab Government has informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that an 8.5-km alternative road to Chandigarh International Airport is under construction and will be completed by December. The submission came during the hearing of a petition filed in public interest on infrastructure and accessibility issues related to the airport.

Appearing before the division bench of Justice Arun Palli and Justice Sudeepti Sharma, Punjab Additional Advocate-General Shekhar Verma submitted that the proposed 50-m wide road was currently being laid at the site in accordance with the plan. The information was furnished in response to court query “as to what is the progress with regard to the alternative road to the airport that had been suggested long ago”.

According to available information, the shorter route is expected to pass through Sector Junction 65-66 (near Bawa White House) and continue towards Sector 66-B. Currently, the PR-7 road remains the sole access point for traffic from Punjab and Haryana to reach the international airport in Mohali.

The bench, during the course of hearing, was also told that a separate 18-ft-wide link road from the Jagatpura village was being strengthened and 90 per cent of the work was already complete. The state government also sought time to file a specific affidavit detailing the progress of the project. Taking note of the submission, the high court adjourned the matter to February 19

The court query and directions follows a long-standing PIL initiated in 2015 by Mohali Industries Association, pushing for improved international services and facilities at the Chandigarh airport.

The bench is being assisted in the matter by senior advocate ML Sarin as amicus curiae or the friend of the court. Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain and senior government counsel Arun Gosain are appearing on behalf of the Centre, while senior standing counsel Amit Jhanji is appearing with Additional standing counsel Jaivir Singh Chandail for UT.

The petitioners have all along been arguing that the lack of expanded connectivity has resulted in substantial revenue loss and hindered regional business growth across Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. They have been seeking adequate infrastructure to transform the airport into a true international hub, matching the region’s economic needs and potential for foreign investment.

The high court, at one point of time, was told that the Chandigarh Administration had proposed two alternative routes for bringing the airport closer. Appearing before the bench, senior counsel Chetan Mittal on the airport’s behalf had pointed out that the proposed alternative routes would virtually reduce more than 7 km distance from the existing route to the road from Chandigarh side.

He had also told the bench that one of proposals was principally agreed upon after deliberations with the all the stakeholders.