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The new airport, located at the Halwara airbase, is nearing completion after multiple delays over the past three years.
The airport is expected to be ready for commercial flights by the end of the year. (Photo: The Indian Express)
Ludhiana’s long-awaited international airport will begin operations within three months, with both domestic and international flights expected to launch.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu confirmed the timeline, while Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh assured that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will expedite the final touches needed for the airport’s completion.
As per The Tribune, the new airport, located at the Halwara airbase, is nearing completion after multiple delays over the past three years. Despite missing 13 deadlines, the project is now close to being ready.
Dr Amar Singh, MP for Fatehgarh Sahib, met with Minister Naidu in New Delhi to discuss the airport’s progress. He stressed the importance of starting flights as soon as construction is finished, especially for the industrial hub and the local population, as well as for NRIs who will benefit from the improved air connectivity.
Naidu assured Dr Singh that the new airport would be operational within the next three months, with flights beginning soon after.
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to push for the completion of pending IAF work. He highlighted that the civil terminal building had already been completed and requested the IAF to finish relaying the airstrip, which is crucial for the airport to open.
Singh responded by directing officials to speed up the remaining work, with the IAF setting a deadline of December 31 to complete the project.
The integrated civil terminal, cargo terminal, and other essential infrastructure are already in place. The remaining work is mostly related to taxiway widening, and once the IAF completes their part, the state government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will finish minor tasks.
Ludhiana’s new airport, which has seen a total investment of Rs 5,822.12 lakh, is now on track to become operational, with the terminal ready by December 15 and the full handover to the Centre scheduled for December 31.
