Add Tribune As Your Trusted Source
TrendingVideosIndia
Opinions | CommentEditorialsThe MiddleLetters to the EditorReflections
UPSC | Exam ScheduleExam Mentor
State | Himachal PradeshPunjabJammu & KashmirHaryanaChhattisgarhMadhya PradeshRajasthanUttarakhandUttar Pradesh
City | ChandigarhAmritsarJalandharLudhianaDelhiPatialaBathindaShaharnama
World | ChinaUnited StatesPakistan
Diaspora
Features | The Tribune ScienceTime CapsuleSpectrumIn-DepthTravelFood
Business | My MoneyAutoZone
News Columns | Straight DriveCanada CallingLondon LetterKashmir AngleJammu JournalInside the CapitalHimachal CallingHill ViewBenchmark
Don't Miss
Advertisement

Consider partial operations of Chandigarh airport from Oct 26 to Nov 7: Residents

More than 50 flights operate from the airport daily with a footfall of around 10,000 passengers.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh. File photo

Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium

Take your experience further with Premium access. Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Yearly Premium ₹999 ₹349/Year
Yearly Premium $49 $24.99/Year
Advertisement

A two-week closure of Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Chandigarh, beginning October 26, will cause inconvenience to passengers during the festive season when the footfall is maximum. Residents have urged the authorities to allow partial operations at the airport.

Advertisement

The airlines have stopped taking bookings from October 26 (1 am) to November 7 (11.59 pm). All bookings for the period have been cancelled and the airlines have promised full refund of the tickets. “The airfield will remain closed for fixed wing aircraft operation due to polymer modified emulsion work planned on the runway. Rotary wing aircraft will be cleared subject to prior clearance, as per IAF information subject to further NOTAM (Notice to Airmen),” officials had said on September 26.

Advertisement

Haryana Cabinet Minister Anil Vij had yesterday urged the Union Civil Aviation Minister to explore the possibility of temporarily shifting flight operations from the Chandigarh airport to Ambala for the convenience of passengers.

“Delhi and Amritsar are the nearest major airports, around 250 km away from Chandigarh. Railways, public transport and taxis will have to take the passenger load while the airport is shut,” said a Chandigarh-based travel agent.

“This will cause a major loss to the industry in the region. The marriage season has already begun. This is also the time of the year when NRIs visit Punjab. The authorities should arrange for partial operation of flights,” said Sanjeev Vashisht, former president of Mohali Industries Association. “As far as I remember the Chandigarh airport was closed for runway repairs in 2018 in two phases (from February 12–26 and May 12–31). It was one of the 21 airports across the country closed for civilian flights from May 7-15 during the India-Pakistan conflict. Now, the airport is being totally shut for two weeks. People lose confidence in the facility with frequent closures. The airport authorities and the IAF should consider making arrangements for partial operations so that passengers are not inconvenienced,” said Mohali Deputy Mayor Kuljit Bedi.

Advertisement

More than 50 flights operate from the airport daily with a footfall of around 10,000 passengers. It operates direct flights to 21 destinations — 19 domestic locations and two international destinations Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Palak Kaushal, a cab driver at the airport, said it would hit his livelihood in the festival season.

Advertisement
Show comments
Advertisement