Arora visits and pushes completion of Halwara Airport

Ludhiana, April 2, 2024: MP (Rajya Sabha) Sanjeev Arora on Tuesday visited site of the under-construction International Airport at Halwara, near here, to get first-hand information about progress of the ongoing work there. 

During his visit, Arora expressed his displeasure over the speed of  work being carried out there. He pulled all the concerned including contractors to speed-up the work as the dream project of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is already getting late and missing its deadlines.

Arora told the officials present there that they should let him know if there is any kind of hinderance or shortage of funds. He said he has observed that there is lack of coordination among various departments, resulting to which the project is getting delayed. He also regretted that hardly any official communicates with him about problems being faced by them in carrying out the construction work. He said the officials only brief him about the obstacles only when he visits or enquires. 

During interaction, Arora was assured that the work of Tensile Fabric at entrance of Terminals and landscaping would be completed within next fifteen days. He also asked the concerned to instal titles where ever these are required. He also saw the ongoing work of taxiway, a path for aircraft at airport connecting runways with aprons, hangars, terminals and other facilities.  However, it may be noted that Terminal Building, Electricity Sub Station, Toilet Block, Apron, internal roads and lighting are almost 100% complete. Taxiway, Public Health works and approach road should be complete by mid-May.  Arora was sure of airport operational by June 1st week. 

Further, Arora also enquired about security system to be installed at the airport. He was told that the work of terminals and electricity had already been completed. The pending works included the installation of furniture, sewerage, 265 meters of taxiway, approach road connecting the premises of the airport. He asked the officials to complete the pending works no later than 15th May, 2024. He categorically asked the officials to brief him if they need any kind of permission to complete the tasks. After some issues were brought to his notice, he spoke to District Forest Officer and Public Health Department officials.    

Arora told the officials that he would again visit the site after 10 days to see progress of the ongoing work and if he still remained dissatisfied then he would take up this matter with the concerned higher authorities to take appropriate action against those showing apathy in completing the project. He asserted that all the small pending works should be completed on priority basis.

It may be mentioned here that the airport is being set up in an area measuring 161.28 acres. Of this, the Terminal area is 2,000 square metres. The total project cost excluding land is around Rs.70 Crores.