Khattar, Civil Aviation Minister discuss plans to enhance air connectivity in Karnal

Hopes for an improved air connectivity in Karnal have received a boost after Union Minister of Power and local MP Manohar Lal Khattar met Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi on Friday.

The long-pending demand for expansion of air services in Karnal, which is home to one of the oldest aviation clubs in the region, now appears to be going in the right direction. Residents are hopeful that the meeting will pave the way for the construction of a domestic airport in Karnal.

“We have been waiting for years to see Karnal on the aviation map. With the meeting between Khattar and Naidu in Delhi, we feel that our dream of having an airport is taking shape,” said Rajiv Kumar, a social activist.

Aman Kumar, a resident, said Karnal’s location on NH-44 makes it ideal for an airport. “We have always felt Karnal deserved this upgrade. The crucial meeting has given us hope. We want to see real progress on the ground now,” he added.

On his ‘X’ account, Karnal MP and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also expressed optimism, saying that detailed discussions were held regarding the development of air services in his parliamentary constituency.

Reaffirming his confidence on the future of civil aviation in the region, he said Karnal would soon carve out a distinct place on India’s aviation map. He highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, saying, “The UDAN scheme, launched by PM Narendra Modi in 2015, was rooted in the vision that even a person wearing slippers should be able to fly.  In the past decade, India has made unprecedented progress in civil aviation, reflected in the doubling of airports and improved connectivity across remote areas.”

Regarding the meeting, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh said detailed discussions were held on expanding air services in Karnal. “We will conduct a study to determine whether expansion should continue at the existing site or need to explore other sites,” he said.

Karnal’s aviation club has the legacy of commercial aviation training since 1967, but it continues to wait for the long-promised transformation into a domestic airport.

The upgrade of the Karnal aviation club has witnessed several hiccups. On July 27, 2012, then Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh had announced plans to upgrade the Hisar and Karnal airstrips to domestic airports. After assuming charge as Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar had announced the development of the aviation club into a domestic airport on November 8, 2014. However, the promise was soon reduced to mere renovation and runway expansion.

In 2021, nearly seven years after the BJP came to power in the state, a High-Powered Purchase Committee (HPPC) chaired by the CM finally approved the expansion and renovation plans. After this, the total area — post land acquisition — increased from 107 acres to 171 acres. The runway is to be extended from the current 3,000 feet to 5,000 feet, so that small to medium-sized aircraft could land here.

In June 2024, then Civil Aviation Minister Dr Kamal Gupta had visited the aviation club to explore expansion plans, which reignited public hopes as he announced its development into a domestic airport. However, there has been no significant development on the ground, except for the construction of a boundary wall.