Chandigarh Airport: International flights to start from August end

“So much money has been spent on this airport. Why haven’t international flights been started? We summoned all the departments concerned, including Ministry of Home, Defense, civil aviation, and every concern stakeholder,” Singh said. “In today’s meeting, we were able to successfully resolve all the issues. I expect that before August end, international operations will be started from this airport.”

Singh, however, did not give the exact date of the first flight or the airline that will operate it.

Asked if the infrastructure available at the airport was sufficient, he said, “The airport authority has done a commendable job — the way the airport has been constructed”.

An official of the parliamentary committee said that the during the meeting the “stakeholders raised their difficulties and then it was discussed how to overcome it.” The official added that several issues including security were discussed during the meeting. Sources said that officials from Chandigarh and Punjab police also attended the meeting.

The Chandigarh International airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 11, 2015. It was constructed at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore. The Punjab and Haryana High Court is hearing a PIL filed by Mohali Industries Association regarding the starting of international flights.

Last month, the High Court had directed the Centre to grant all due clearances to IndiGo for starting of international flights from Chandigarh airport by June 10. It directed IndiGo to submit its flight schedule within three weeks thereafter.

Despite repeated attempts, Chandigarh International Airport Chief Executive Officer Sunil Dutt could not be contacted for comment.