The upcoming Halwara International Airport in Ludhiana may be completed by March 2024 after many delays, say media reports. After missing several deadlines in 2022, the airport was expected to be completed by October 2023. Touted to be a gamechanger for people of Ludhiana, one of the most affluent cities in Punjab, the airport will have a significant impact on the state’ economy in general and city in particular.
Ludhiana already has a domestic airport at Sahnewal
Ludhiana already has a domestic airport at Sahnewal, five km from Ludhiana city centre, which will be closed permanently once the flight operations start at Halwara. In fact, operations at the Sahnewal resumed after a gap of two years in September 2023 when the Punjab chief minister flagged off the Hindon-Ludhiana flight. Operations at Ludhiana’s domestic airport in Sahnewal were suspended due to a small number of passengers. Spread over 130 acre, the Sahnewal Airport caters to 10-12 chartered flights on an average every month, mainly from Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai.
Considering that Sahnewal airport had limitations due to non-availability of land, it was decided to redevelop the Halwara Air Force Station base as the site for an international airport. In 2018, the Centre gave an approval to redevelop the existing Halwara Air Force Station as the new international airport.
Halwara Airport: History
Halwara Air Force Station is an Indian Air Force (IAF) base and was used as an allied Air Force staging base during the World War-II and abandoned after the war. It was reactivated under the Indian Air Force on March 16, 1950.
Where is Halwara International Airport located?
The Punjab government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in 2018 signed an agreement, entering a joint venture (JV) for setting up the new civil and cargo international air terminal at Aitiana in Raikot Tehsil at the Indian Air Force Station Halwara in Ludhiana. Located 31 km from Ludhiana, the airport in Halwara is being developed at one of the oldest frontline airbases of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
To be formally known as the Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport, it is being developed at an area spanning 161.28 acre, including 135.54 acre for the airport and 25.74 acre for future development.
Being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 4,691.12 Lakh, the airport will have one-and-a half level integrated terminal building with a built-up area of 15,000 square metre (including 5,000 sqm of basement) and an interim building of 2,000 sqm built-up area with apron, GSE area, parking, and other allied facilities.
While the AAI has 51% stake in the JV, the Punjab government has a 49% share thorough the Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority (GLADA).
Halwara International Airport: Facilities and links
Along with a state-of-the-art terminal building, the international airport will boast modern ancillary facilities, such as apron taxiway extensions, substation, boundary wall, and approach roads.
Designed to accommodate Boeing 737-700 and Airbus A-320 aircraft, the new airport will also have snack bars, toilets, drinking water facilities, first-aid room, four check-in counters and baggage conveyor belt with storing space for 50 baggage trolleys. The modern airport will also facilitate landing at low visibility with an Instrument Landing System.
While work on widening a 5.1-km-link-road from Aitiana is completed with an estimated cost of Rs 8.17 Crore, there are plans to build an approach road from the Delhi-Katra Expressway to the new airport.
Facilities at Halwara International Airport
- Baggage handling system
- Passenger boarding bridges
- Flight information and displays
- Sewage treatment facility
- Fire-fighting system
- Security equipment
- Book shop
- Restaurant
- Snack bar counter
- Travel requisite
- Pharmaceutical shops
- Airlines offices
- Ticket selling counters
- ATM
- Bank counters
- Meet and greet area
- First-aid room
- Caretaker room
- Toilets
- AHU switch room
- Drinking water
- Child-care room
- Terminal manager office
- Check-in counters
- Queuing space
- Two X-Ray BIS for baggage
- One baggage conveyor belt
Halwara International Airport: Capacity
As per traffic data, the proposed project will handle 0.25 Mn passengers in the base year and handle 1.38 Mn passengers by 2031-32.
Halwara International Airport: Impact on economy, employment
Known as the Manchester of India for its flourishing hosiery manufacturing industries, Ludhiana is the largest industrial and business hub with a population of nearly four Mn. The decision to develop an international airport for the city was demand from industrialists and businessmen of Ludhiana.
The improved air connectivity to the city, that is strategically located at the centre of Punjab, would boost industrial and economic activities in the state. According to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the airport will put Punjab on the map of better air connectivity, save time, money, and energy.
Employment boost
According to the detailed project report, the direct employment during construction phase in the proposed project will be 200 skilled, unskilled, and professional workforces, including temporary and permanent employees. While during the project operational stage for the purpose of day-to-day maintenance work, about 190 staff would be required.
FAQs
How many international airports are there in Punjab?
Punjab currently has two international airports, one in Chandigarh and the other in Amritsar. With this new international airport in Ludhiana, the state will have three international airports.
How many airports are there in Ludhiana?
Ludhiana has a domestic airport in Sahnewal. With this new airport in Halwara, operations at the Sahnewal airport will stop.
What is the formal name of the upcoming international airport in Ludhiana’s Halwara?
The formal name of the upcoming international airport in Ludhiana’s Halwara is Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport.
Where is the Ludhiana International Airport located?
The site for the international airport is in Aitiana village, Ludhiana. The site is approachable by the Halwara-Aitiana Link Road, which is 0.1 km from the site in the south-west direction. The Mullanpur Railway Station is located at 10.2 km in north-east direction.
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An alumna of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Sunita Mishra brings over 16 years of expertise to the fields of legal matters, financial insights, and property market trends. Recognised for her ability to elucidate complex topics, her articles serve as a go-to resource for home buyers navigating intricate subjects. Through her extensive career, she has been associated with esteemed organisations like the Financial Express, Hindustan Times, Network18, All India Radio, and Business Standard.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Sunita holds an MA degree in Sanskrit, with a specialisation in Indian Philosophy, from Delhi University. Outside of her work schedule, she likes to unwind by practising Yoga, and pursues her passion for travel.
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