Badal meets Praful Patel for clearance of Mohali airport

Chandigarh, Dec 26 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today called upon the central government to expedite the pending clearances relating to the Mohali International Airport, to enable the state government to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Mr Badal made this request during his meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, sources said here.

The Chief Minister also asked the Minister to persuade the Ministry of Defence to expedite the clearance of the No Objection Certificates (NOC) to be given for the operation of two civil airports coming up at Sahnewal (Ludhiana) and Bhisiana (Bathinda) besides the International Airport at Mohali.

He told the minister that the upgradation and extension of the existing airports at Mohali and Sahnewal would further boost the process of modernising infrastructure in the state.

He also informed the Civil Aviation Minister that a civil airport near Ludhiana was a must, as it was the industrial hub of the state.

Regarding the proposal for setting up of Flying Clubs Training Institutes at Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda and Patiala with a view to provide better training facilities to the youth of this region, the Chief Minister requested Mr Patel to intervene in getting NOC from the Defence Ministry. The proposal in this regard had already been cleared by the State Government.

The Chief Minister also raised the issue of setting up Civil Terminals at the Adampur Air Force Station on the pattern of the civil airport facility at Pathankot.

Mr Patel assured the Chief Minister that he would soon take up all the related matters with the Ministry of Defence.

UNI