International flights may take off from Oct

The Punjab government and the airport director received the copy of the notification issued by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Revenue) on August 19 giving the go-ahead for the Customs facility to be set up at the Chandigarh Airport. Around 1,500 square feet of space has been provided to Customs officials.

An officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of customs along with his team will be on duty at the airport. The clearance for immigration facility is expected within a fortnight,sources said.

“The x-ray machines to screen the baggage have already been set up at the airport and now the work is on to set up a computer system for immigration. Around 30 Punjab police personnel have been trained at the Amritsar International Airport for immigration duties and these personnel will now be sent on deputation to Chandigarh Administration so that they can be posted at the Chandigarh Airport for immigration duties,’’ said an official.

According to an Airport Authority of India survey,it is estimated that by 2013 the Chandigarh Airport will see around 15 lakh passengers. At present the passenger traffic is 6 lakh. Three years ago the passenger traffic was 1.5 lakh. It is estimated that this year it will reach 8 lakh passengers.

Sources said Air Arabia has applied to the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) to start a flight from Chandigarh to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The airline operates from various cities in the country.

Fly Dubai,a low-cost airline of Emirates Airlines,had got clearance from the Union government to fly from Chandigarh to Dubai,but could not fly as the customs and immigration clearance had not come then. Other major airlines are also expected to commence operations soon.

“Besides passenger traffic from the region,the other major reason is that the fuel cost will be less. In Delhi,the Value Added Tax is 12 per cent,here it is only 4 per cent. The parking charges are also less than Delhi.” said an officer.

A special customs counter was set up at the Chandigarh Airport during the Cricket World Cup semi final match between India and Pakistan as the Pakistan prime minister along with a delegation had flown directly from Islamabad to Chandigarh.