Airport upgrade: Delay makes AAI give up on Army land

The AAI,however,still wants the 0.7 acres to expand the approach road to the airport. Though the AAI has given up on the 4.5 acres,the Chandigarh Administration still wants to acquire it.

“We want the land as demanded from the Army. We will compensate them by providing an equal area of land at a different location,” a senior official of the Administration said. “We can give this land to the airport authorities,in case they need it in the future.”

Army officials said the matter was taking time,as it was pending with the defence ministry. “A proper procedure is followed (before handing over Army land). The matter is pending with the defence ministry,” an army official said.

Besides land from the Army,the AAI had asked for 2.5 acres of land from the Indian Air Force to expand the car parking at the airport,as around 800 cars use it everyday. This land,according to sources,would be soon handed over to the Administration,which would transfer it to the AAI.