New International Airport Should Involve Haryana and Himachal - 28/08/2007
Ref.No.: QRLD/2007-08: 206-274
S. Prakash Singh Badal Ji,
Hon. Chief Minister Punjab
CM Punjab Residence
House 45 Sector 2,
Chandigarh
28 August 2007
Dear Badal sahib,
New International Airport Should Involve Haryana and Himachal
Noting the recent statements of your government’s intentions to establish an international airport at Mohali and the deliberations of the Chandigarh Administration on expanding the Chandigarh airport, please consider an alternative location that all three states (Punjab, Himachal and Haryana) and the Union Territory could participate in, by contributing land or equity or both.
Both the Mohali and Chandigarh proposals are constrained by the availability of land. 250 acres at Mohali can by no means be considered an international scale.
Punjab and Haryana share a significant border with suitable terrain. It should be feasible for both governments to contribute 1000 to 2000 acres each along this border.
Such a facility would serve half of Punjab, half of Haryana and all of Himachal, not to forget the UT, thus ensuring due feasibility, critical economies of scale and earlier break-even. Moreover, it would become the dominant facility in North India, outside of Delhi.
Surely these 3 governments can rise above political colours to agree on this critical infrastructure project, which will substantially impact the region, attract investment in new industries and serve for all 3 states and a cargo export hub, particularly of perishable agricultural produce?
As an MLA from the Ludhiana district I should be promoting the cause of the proposed Halwara airport but being aware of the objections from the defence department, current limitations on proximities between international airports and its likely impact on Amritsar International airport, I consider the near Chandigarh option to be the better one. I am certain that Ludhiana will in due course warrant an international airport as air traffic to Punjab increases further and as aviation policy changes to serve current needs.
I simply cannot accept that Mohali will serve all 3 states. Citizens of Himachal and Haryana will have little emotional bond with this facility unless their governments are involved.
In the developed world the growth of cities is being increasingly airport-centric, with warehousing, light engineering, offices and residential developments rapidly supporting the growth in air traffic to the airport. Therefore, it is critical that the new airport has sufficient surplus land to last for 50 years of growth. 4000 acres should certainly suffice, and well as 50,000 acres in close proximity for future commercial and residential development.
Do not handicap the proposed airport by locating it where it and its support services are constrained to grow.
Kind regards,
Yours faithfully,
Jassi Khangura MLA
Copy:
- His Excellency Gen. (Retd.) S.F. Rodrigues, Governor Punjab and Administrator Chandigarh
- Mr Praful Patel, Union Cabinet Minister, Civil Aviation
- Mrs Ambika Soni, Union Cabinet Minister, Tourism and Culture
- Mr Pawan Bansal, Union Minister for finance & control
- Sh. Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Haryana
- Sh. Virendra Singh, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh
- MLAs and MPs of Punjab, Himachal and Haryana
