Why Chandigarh airport has only two international flights, HC asks Centre, Punjab

“There is also no explanation from the Chandigarh International Airport Authority Limited as to why there are only two international flights daily from Chandigarh (UT and capital of two prosperous states). It is unfortunate to note that even a district headquarters like Amritsar has more than 14 international flights to different countries,” noted Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal when briefed by lawyers about the current status of the airport .

The bench directed the Union Civil Aviation Secretary to file an affidavit explaining why the number of international flights from Chandigarh had remained static and not increased despite the airport becoming CAT-II ILS-over 18 months ago became compliant.

“It is made clear that if the affidavits are not filed well before the stipulated date, the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, shall appear before the court virtually on the next date,” the court said while ordering the postponed hearing. November 6.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), which was pending since December 2015, when it was approached by the Mohali Industries Association, alleging lack of facilities at the airport. Since then, HC has been monitoring the progress of various projects at the airport.

Currently only two international flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Currently, the airport only offers two international flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

After the flight to Sharjah was discontinued in October 2023, the airport’s only international connection was the IndiGo flight to Dubai, which flies seven days a week. A daily flight to Abu Dhabi was launched again in April this year. Meanwhile, the highly anticipated direct flight to London, initially scheduled to launch in October 2022, remains grounded.

The new terminal, inaugurated on September 15, 2015 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been built at an estimated cost of ₹1,400 crore. Initially there were only forty flights, but there are now ninety, including two to international destinations.

Two new domestic flights to Varanasi and Guwahati have been added to this winter’s schedule.

However, both the Center and Punjab are facing criticism from both the public and the Supreme Court for not being able to launch more international flights despite Chandigarh being a major regional aviation hub – with Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab as a feeder. areas.

The court also questioned that a major obstacle in launching long-haul flights to Europe and the United States of America was cited as the unavailability of an instrument landing system (ILS), which allows the airport to operate in dense fog conditions. But this was resolved by installation of CAT-II (ILS) in March 2023, the court said while directing the Union Civil Aviation Secretary to file an affidavit as to why the number of international flights was reduced for eighteen months later still had not been increased.

The Secretary has also been directed to explain the steps taken to increase the number of international flights from the airport.

‘Why shorter route still hanging fire?’

The court expressed concern over the delay in construction of an alternate route to the airport via three Mohali villages namely Jagatpura, Kandala and Jhiurheri, for which a committee headed by Additional Advocate General of India Satya Pal Jain was set up.

The timeline for construction of the alternate route remained pending and had not been submitted to date, the court complained.

It has taken note of a statement from the Union Defense Ministry that it has no objection to the project provided certain conditions are met as it is also a defense airport.

The court also asked the Union Civil Aviation Secretary to inquire whether there were plans to expand the airport and if so, on which side of the airport.

The demand for a shorter route initially came from Haryana. Surveys were also conducted. Starting from Sector 48 in Chandigarh, it will reduce the current distance of 11.5 km to around 3.5 km, reducing the travel time from 25 minutes to 5 minutes. However, the country has faced opposition from Punjab, which reportedly believes it is already in the process of constructing an alternative route at the expense of ₹125 crore, while the proposed road would cost ₹300 crores.