Rajnath ‘okays’ opening of Ambala Cantt Airport

Cabinet Minister Anil Vij today said that Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has given his consent for the inauguration of the Ambala Cantonment Airport.

The inauguration will take place as soon as a date is finalised. Flights will initially operate from Ambala to Ayodhya, Lucknow, Jammu and Srinagar.

Responding to media queries, Anil Vij said, “Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh played an important role in the construction of the airport as the land required for the airport belonged to the Army. He helped in providing that land. Therefore, I had requested him to inaugurate the airport. The inauguration is being planned around August 15. Correspondence has been done with the Chief Minister of Haryana and the Union Defence Minister to fix a date for the inauguration as both dignitaries are required to be present.”

The minister further informed that officers and staff of the Civil Aviation Department have already been posted and the airport infrastructure at Ambala Cantonment is almost ready.

Vij further shared that he has received a letter from the Union Civil Aviation Minister approving three airlines for operations from the airport. Apart from these, other airlines have also shown interest and are seeking approval to start flights from Ambala Cantonment.

In response to a question about initiating cargo services from Ambala Cantonment Airport, Vij said that he has written to Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar highlighting the demand from traders for a cargo airline service from Ambala.