As modernisation work at the Chandigarh Airport fails to keep pace with the prescribed deadline, it seems imminent that air travellers will have to “wade” their way to booking counters during the monsoon months.

After the expiry of the deadline earlier in March this year, the project is expected to take several more months to see completion.

Even as construction of the basic structure was complete five months ago, the roofing of the airport is yet to be done. To be imported from South Africa, the roof is yet to reach the construction site.

For Airport Director Sunil Dutt, the project is likely to be completed by September this year.

“Despite our best efforts, the construction work has been delayed. With the rains, the work is expected to slowdown further and the final structure will get a face only by September,” said Dutt.

Interestingly, expectations of upgraded services at the airport caused the number of flights operating from here to increase drastically. As many as 20 flights of five different airlines currently operate from the Airport every day.