Doaba Industrialists demanded Airport in the Region

Jalandhar, May 29, 2015: DAWA (Doaba Airport Welfare Association) has recently held an urgent meeting on behalf of industrial fraternity of the region for having direly needed Airport in the region. The Chairman of the association, Mr SV Hans, has forwarded a request letter in this regard to the Chief Minister S Parkash Singh Badal Government of Punjab and  Govt of India. It has been clearly pointed out why the region strongly needs airport. In the first meeting of the association, held at hotel Kamal Palace, various points were discussed, debated and deliberated on the merit to have an airport in the region, especially in Jalandhar. It has been requested, thereof, that with the start of national flights from Adampur (Jalandhar) there will be potential growth of economy & industry on the whole. Presently, Adampur Airport is handling only VVIP traffic.

Considering the region as the richest and biggest contributor to the economy in the whole of the state, the association members lamented the absence of such a basic necessity in the region. Taking this as a responsibility for present & next generation, and to further lead economy of the region on to peaks, the association is determined to carry forward the issue for sure and positive outcomes.

Explaining why Jalandhar is to be on the air-map, association has pointed out that Jalandhar is the biggest center of vernacular press In India; reputed manufacturing & exporting hub for hand tools, auto parts, sports & rubber goods, valves & cocks, leather & surgical manufacturing, and films distribution. In addition, Jalandhar is a hub of educational institutions and many thousand students from all states of India and other countries get education here. The city also has a major contribution towards the medical tourism as it is hub of 400+ medical treatment Specialty Centers which are economically viable and are frequently used by people from different countries. In fact, Doaba region is also the region of NRIs as the highest numbers of NRIs are from this area and it is difficult for them to visit from Delhi to their own areas in short and expected time.

In addition, airport in the region can promote tourism with the availability and easy access in vicinity to Science City, Railway Coach Factory, and upcoming Jang E Azadi Memorial. Even the automobile industry in Hoshiarpur will be benefitted through this project. Moreover, Jalandhar is also included in the list of 100 Smart Cities as declared by PM Modi and to realize it there should be a sure existence of airport in the region. Association has also stressed that foreign buyers are reluctant to visit Jalandhar just because of prolonged travelling hours from Delhi, which is indeed a great loss to the flourishing industry of the state. So, It is suggested that in the initial stage national flights can be connected to Delhi which in next phase may be extended to other destination.

Illustrative, almost two years back then Central Government had approved airports in tier-2 and tier-3 cities including Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Ludhiana on that map. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) team had visited the Adampur air force station to check the economic and technical feasibility of opening it for civilian use. However, it could not reach to any conclusion though many of the airports, in Mohali and Pune, are working on from the air-force station similar to that of Adampur.

Prior to this also, successive state governments had made the airport in the city an issue but all in vain. Now, people see hope when the announcement is going to be made that “airport is must for the city”. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal has already announced while addressing a rally near Jalandhar that a new domestic airport would be established at Adampur to facilitate the Doaba region especially NRIs. Dy CM Mr Badal had assured that “Punjab Government has prepared the blue print for the new domestic airport at Adampur and he is in constant touch with the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation for all kinds of necessary approvals.”

Other than Chairman Mr SV Hans of Zoloto Industries, 21-member of the association include President Mr JK Gupta (ANR Motors), Honorary Secretary Mr Ashwani Kumar (Victor Forgings), Secretary Finance Mr Narinder S Maingi (HB Group of Industries), Sr Vice Chairman Mr Charanjit Singh Channi (CT Institutes), Vice Chairman Mr Anil Chopra (St Soldier Group), Vice Chairman Mr Ramesh Mittal (Lovely Group), Vice President Mr Balram Kapoor (JMP Group) and more.