In a bid to improve connectivity and spur economic activity, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar laid the foundation stone of a domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment on Sunday (October 15). This civil enclave project, sanctioned under the UDAN scheme, is set to occupy 20 acres adjacent to the Air Force Station.
During the ceremony, attended by officials including Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij, Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and Rajya Sabha MP Kartikiye Sharma, Khattar highlighted the airport’s potential to strengthen connectivity with other states and bolster economic activity.
Additionally, the airport will serve as a complementary facility to the Chandigarh airport. The project will leverage the existing runway of the Ambala Cantonment Airport Station for commercial aircraft landings.
The Ministry of Defence has granted approval for the Air Force airstrip’s civil aviation use, allocating approximately 20 acres for the civil enclave, with the Haryana government disbursing Rs 133 crore. The Public Works department of Haryana has issued a tender worth Rs 16 crore for the terminal building’s construction and approved Rs 25 crore for other airport infrastructure.
Deputy Chief Minister Chautala revealed plans for a passenger terminal capable of accommodating at least 200 people simultaneously, expected to be completed within six months.
Direct flights to Delhi, Srinagar and other cities
The Haryana government has sought permission to operate flights from Ambala to several destinations under the UDAN scheme, including Srinagar, Varanasi, Jaipur, Amritsar, and Delhi.
Minister Vij noted that the airport will serve not only Ambala but also individuals from western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, and praised the dedicated efforts to overcome various permissions and approvals required for the project.
Making air travel more accessible for common man
Vij emphasised that the airport aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to make air travel accessible to the common man and acknowledged the global prestige gained by India under Modi’s leadership.
Minister Vij also commended Deputy Chief Minister Chautala for facilitating necessary approvals and underscored the regional benefits of a new airport, explaining that it positively impacts not only the city but the entire surrounding area.