This would cater to 700 passengers, with four passenger-boarding bridges.

It was understood that the work would begin soon after the Punjab government handed over requisite land, free of cost.

But T Premnath says that the project cost has not been finalised. Also, it has not been decided when will the work begin or be completed.

“The building plan is at the draft stage. The project is being taken up as a joint venture with 51 per cent equity of AAI and 24.5 per cent shared by Punjab and Haryana,” Premnath pointed out.

“The timeframe when the proposed new international airport complex will become operational cannot be specified at this stage,” he added.

The AAI authorities had specified that no new runway would be constructed at the international airport.

The only existing runway, owned by the Indian Air Force, would continue to be used for taking off and landing of the international flights as well.

“Infrastructure like a parallel taxi track, apron, terminal building, navigational aids and city side developments are planned,” said the AAI official.

The project had taken off on January 4 when the AAI, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) and Haryana had signed an MoU. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel had laid the foundation stone of the new integrated terminal building complex at Chandigarh domestic airport.

The Chandigarh airport, which would be upgraded to an international airport, belongs to the Indian Air Force.