Punjab govt clears 3 flying training school proposals

Chandigarh, May 23 (UNI) The Punjab Government today cleared the proposal to set up three flying training schools at Amritsar, Ludhiana and Bathinda under public private partnership (PPP) mode.

The government also decided to upgrade the infrastructure at Patiala Flying training academy.

This decision was taken at an official meeting chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today.

The Chief Minister asked the officials of the Civil Aviation Department not to miss the aviation boom and asked them to tie up with the leading players in the field of civil aviation for setting up of world-class pilot training centers in the state.

He also asked the Civil Aviation Secretary to submit a detailed proposal for the upgradation of Sahnewal airfield in collaboration with Airport Authority of India (AAI) in a joint venture.

Likewise, it was also decided in the meeting to put forth a proposal for the creation of an International Airport and Cargo hub at Mohali to provide world-class civil aviation facilities to passengers. This airport was likely to decongest the air traffic at International Airports at Delhi and Amritsar, besides it would give a fillip to the trade and commerce activity in the country in general and northern region in particular.

The Chief Minister also discussed the modalities to impart training to the Punjabi youth in flying so that they could take up commercial flying as their profession. He said with the expansion of air and cargo services, India has a tremendous potential to utilise the services of these trained commercial pilots.

Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Civil Aviation Minister Upinderjit Kaur, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister D S Guru, Secretary Civil Aviation Viswajit Khanna, MD PIDB A S Chattwal and Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gagandeep Singh Brar.

UNI