Badal calls on Antony for direct flight from Sharjah to Chandigarh

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday called on Union Defence Minister AK Antony to seek necessary permission for Air Arabia of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for starting a daily flight between Sharjah to Chandigarh.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday called on Union Defence Minister AK Antony to seek necessary permission for Air Arabia of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for starting a daily flight between Sharjah to Chandigarh.

Badal told Antony that Air Arabia has already applied for the necessary clearances for the said flight and it was in a position to commence international operations from Chandigarh within a month of obtaining the approval from Ministry of Defence (MoD). He said the Chandigarh Civil Air Terminal had already been declared as custom notified and an immigration post under the various provisions of Customs and Immigration Act has also been set up. He also informed Antony that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has already taken up the issue with the MoD to seek its early clearance.

The Chief Minister also sought Antonys personal intervention to direct the MoD to immediately approve the Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) already forwarded by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for all the international flights to be operated from Green Field International Airport being set up by M/s Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited at Ludhiana at a cost of Rs 17,500 crore. He said without IFR,operation of international flights was not possible,pending which the project was yet to take off.

Story continues below this ad

Badal also requested the Union Minister to direct Army authorities to immediately commence construction of the Service Selection Centre (North) at Ropar,as the state had recently allotted 200 acres of prime land and handed over its possession. He urged Antony to lay its foundation stone at the earliest besides inaugurating two NCC Nagars set up by the state government at Danewala (Muktsar) and Ropar each over an area of six to seven acres and likely to be completed in May this year.

Antony agreed to inaugurate NCC Nagars besides visiting Maharaja Ranjit Singh Armed Forces Preparatory Academy,SAS Nagar Mohali in June. He said he would soon take up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs for early clearance to start direct flight from Chandigarh to Sharjah besides sorting out the pending issues of IFR soon in order make the Green Field International Airport Ludhiana operational.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...

Police personnel seen to control the situation during a massive protest over the statehood demand and the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule, in Leh on Wednesday. (ANI Video Grab)

Statehood protest takes violent turn in Ladakh, BJP office set ablaze in Leh

India4 hr ago

Protests in Ladakh turned violent as students and youth organisations demanded statehood and Sixth Schedule status. Two elderly protesters fainted, prompting a shutdown call. A BJP office and security vehicle were set on fire. Activist Sonam Wangchuk urged for a peaceful approach. The demand for Sixth Schedule status is due to Ladakh's tribal-majority population and direct central administration.

View all shorts

Live Blog