In a letter addressed to the minister, Tewari wrote: “Ludhiana is the industrial hub of North India and home to the hosiery, light engineering and bicycle industry of the country. It has also been ranked first among 17 industrial cities of the country in all parameters including construction, property, taxes and trading.”

The letter further reads: “It is indeed a travesty that a city that contributes possibly the highest revenue to the

Centre’s kitty in North

India does not have a single flight connection.”

Tewari also pointed out that exporters, importers, buyers, businessmen, traders and industrialists, who regularly visit Ludhiana from across the country and foreign nations, have to go through a torturous experience just to reach Ludhiana or return.

“This impacts even government resource mobilisation adversely as a loss of business translates into loss of revenue directly,” he has written.

It was further said that in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Ludhiana was regularly serviced by Indian Airlines, Vayudoot and other private airlines. The flights have, however, been discontinued due to commercial considerations since the mid-90s.

He said, “I know that Air India is going through a difficult patch, but at least one daily flight may be started between Ludhiana and Delhi.”

Tewari also suggested that his office could talk to various industrial associations in the city and get them in touch with the Airlines’, if there is a concern about certain minimum revenue that the service must make so that the airline does not incur a loss on its Ludhiana operations.

This offer, however, should not be construed to mean that Ludhiana becomes a subsidy basket for other Air India routes facing losses, he said. “In other words, we will pay the fair price but don’t rip us off,” Tewari remarked. 

The Congress spokesperson also pressed for the upgrading of the existing civilian airport at Sahnewal and construction of a civilian enclave at the Halwara Air Force base in Ludhiana district.