10 places each in Punjab, Haryana to get air connectivity, Centre tells HC

CHANDIGARH: The Centre on Tuesday told Punjab and Haryana high court that under its regional connectivity scheme, 10 locations each in Punjab and Haryana, will get air connectivity soon.

The information was given by assistant solicitor general Chetan Mittal during the resumed hearing of a PIL on non-commencement of international flight at Chandigarh airport, filed in 2015.

He said expression of interest (EOI) for the scheme has been invited by the ministry of civil aviation. Those companies flying on these locations will be offered incentives by the Centre, he added.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government on Tuesday said it was in the process of developing Hisar airport as an international airport and integrated aviation hub, which could help reduce air traffic from Delhi international airport.

State additional advocate general Surender Pannu told the court that the chief minister has written to Centre and conveyed that Hisar Aerodrome was having 194 acre of land and additional land of 3,200 acre has been identified by the state to develop it as an airport.

The court was informed that in the first phase, expansion of the existing runway from 4,000 feet to 7,000 feet, provision of night landing facility, construction of additional hangers for Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) activities and renovation of the terminal building at a cost of ₹50 crore, have been planned by the state government.

The court was also told that the director general of Civil Aviation has been requested by the state to provide a specialist technical officer who could guide the state about the required facilities at Hisar airport. HTC