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New airport on Cabinet agenda
The Union Cabinet will be clearing the decks for a civil airport at Halwara Air Force Stn in Punjab, reports Aloke Tikku.
The Union Cabinet is expected to clear the decks for a civil airport at Halwara Air Force Station on Monday, in time for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to lay the foundation stone for the project during his two-day tour to Punjab.
Singh is scheduled to begin his visit to the state on Tuesday evening, shortly after Parliament’s Winter Session is adjourned sine die. The airport project has been in the works for several years and would give the much-needed air connectivity to Ludhiana — often referred to as the Manchester of India and Punjab’s industrial capital.
Officials said the proposed civil enclave at the air force station would be capable of catering to domestic as well as international flights.
Singh’s visit to the state comes months ahead of Assembly polls early next year. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh is in election mode and has launched a Punjab Vikas Yatra to highlight his achievements and mobilise support before the code of conduct comes into force.
In course of his Punjab tour, Singh is also expected to launch the Rs 250 crore scheme of Jawaharlal Nehru Renewal Mission and hand over the historic Gobindgarh Fort at Amritsar.
