In pursuance of the decision of the Council of Ministers of December 3, 2018 approving the setting up of a New Civil International Air Terminal at IAF Station Halwara, Ludhiana; the Government of Punjab today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the same.The MoU was signed by Secretary Civil Aviation Tejveer Singh, on behalf of the Government of Punjab and Executive Director AAI GD Gupta, on behalf of AAI; in the presence of the Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh and Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI.Divulging details of the MoU, an official spokesperson said that the project would be implemented through a Joint Venture Company (JVC) formed with the majority stake of 51% of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and 49% stake of the State Government thorough the Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA).Further, the AAI would bear all capital expenditure of development of new airport; while the Punjab Government would provide 135.54 acres of land free of cost and free of all encumbrances for the project while the JVC would bear all expenditure on operation, management & maintenance including repairs, he added.It is expected that Phase I of the project i.e. Development of New International Civil Enclave in 135.54 acres for full-fledged operations upto Code-4C type of aircraft shall be completed within 3 years.
The International Airport at Ludhiana would not only be a commercially viable project and facilitate better air connectivity for passengers of the State but will have a spinoff economic benefit for the industries in the State, he added.Another, MoU was signed between the Government of Punjab and AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company Limited (AAICLAS), a wholly owned subsidiary of AAI; for operation and maintenance of the Cargo Terminal at Amritsar Airport. As per the MoU, the AAI will take over the Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) facility at Amritsar Airport; which has been in-operational since 2013; and operate & manage it. The spokesperson said that it will give a boost to agri-exports of Punjab and neighboring States as cargo flights are expected to start in the near future. The MoU was exchanged by MD Punjab Agro C. Sibin and Keku Bomi Gazder, CEO AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services.Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary Development Viswajeet Khanna, Director Town and Planning Gurneet Tej, Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Pradeep Aggarwal, Chief Administrator GLADA PS Gill and Director Civil Aviation Girish Dayalan. Apart from these CEO International Airport Mohali Suneel Dutt and Joint GM (Engg) Ashok Kumar were also present.