GoI gives go ahead for starting international flights from Chandigarh
Author(s): City Air NewsNew Delhi, June 19, 2014:The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation today gave its nod to soon start international flights from Chandigarh to Dubai and Bangkok thereby catering to the heavy rush from the region.This decision...
New Delhi, June 19, 2014:The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation today gave its nod to soon start international flights from Chandigarh to Dubai and Bangkok thereby catering to the heavy rush from the region.
This decision was taken by the Union Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati during a meeting with the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who called on him at his office here in Rajiv Gandhi this afternoon.
During the deliberations, the Chief Minister thanked Raju for giving clearance for the commencement of international flights from Chandigarh. The Union Minister apprised Badal that Indigo, Spice Jet and UAE Airlines have been given permission to operate these international flights from Chandigarh to Dubai and Bangkok, in the near future and hoped that it would cater to the major rush from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and Haryana, who had now to board these flights from Delhi thereby saving their lot of time, money and energy.
In another move aimed at providing air connectivity to the south western districts of the state, the Union Civil Aviation Minister also agreed to start Domestic flights from Civil Terminal Bathinda after seeking final clearance from the Ministry of Defence. The Chief Minister apprised him that the construction work of the Civil Terminal at Bathinda had been completed about an year back. However, he said that the Terminal has not been yet inaugurated due to which the purpose of constructing it remains unfulfilled. Badal urged the Union Minister to inaugurate the Air terminal at the earliest besides starting Domestic flights at the earliest. “In the beginning Delhi-Amritsar flight can be given a halt at Bathinda” he added.
Flagging up another issue Badal also sought intervention of the Union Minister to impress upon the Ministry of Defence for opening civil air terminals at Air force stations Adampur in Jalandhar and Halwara in Ludhiana to facilitate the people to have air connectivity to these important industrial towns to boost trade and commerce activity in the region. Likewise, the Chief Minister also urged Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati to resume the domestic flights from Civil Air Terminal at Pathankot and Sahnewal. He said that domestic flights were operational at Pathankot and Sahnewal upto about two years back and few months ago respectively. However Badal said that with the stoppage of these flights passengers were facing a lot of problems. “With the resumption of these domestic flights air connectivity of the state will get a huge boost” added Badal.
Raising another issue the Chief Minister urged Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati to impress upon the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to review its policy of making it mandatory for the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Training Institutes to have non Airworthy pressurized aircraft fitted with Jet Engines to demonstrate practical working of systems. He said that this policy has resulted in the closure of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering College at Patiala, which was successfully running since long with 30 students passing out every year. Badal said that reopening of this College was utmost important because there was tremendous scope in aircraft industry nowadays.
Responding to the issues raised by the Chief Minister on positive nod, Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati assured him that he would soon get the entire case examined by his ministry so that a final decision could be taken in this behalf.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Principal Secretary SK Sandhu.