Punjab: Work On Halwara International Airport To Be Completed By September, To Ease Air Connectivity For Ludhiana Region

The construction of the upcoming international airport in Halwara — which is located 40 km from Ludhiana — is expected to be completed by September, after missing two deadlines of January and June 2022 in the past.

The construction work of the project was divided into two parts — construction of internal roads, estate public health services and campus lighting, and construction of airport terminal building at Air Force Station in Halwara — which is one of the oldest frontline airbases of the Indian Air Force (IAF), close to Ludhiana, reports The Tribune.

The terminal building is expected to be finished by the end of July, according to the Punjab public works department (PWD).

“Bids have been allotted and work is progressing well. The airport terminal would give connectivity to the Army area. There was initially some hurdle as the contract for internal roads had to be terminated and reallocated, which led to some delay. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will take over once the construction is complete,” said a PWD official.

An official with the civil aviation department stated, “They also need to float tender and shift some of their infrastructure from Sahnewal. That too will take some time and we have asked them to do it in two months. The actual operations at the airport could, therefore, begin in the beginning of September”.

The state government has already initiated civil works costing Rs 46.91 crore, including the development of internal roads, taxiway, apron, public health services, campus lighting, and terminal building.

The airport terminal will provide connectivity to the Army area, and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will take over once the construction is complete.

Once operational, the airport will provide ease of air travel for industrialists and students of Ludhiana and nearby districts.

The taxiway is being widened, and the approach-way from inside the terminal complex will be connected with the runway at the IAF station.