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Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 21
The Air Force authorities have agreed to the Haryana’s demand for direct connectivity of the state to the international airport. Haryana will now have an access to the airport through an underpass on the National Highway-21.
The development is significant as travelling time to reach the international airport from Panchkula side will be reduced by nearly 20 minutes. Currently, the passengers from Haryana side have to go to Mohali side for reaching the airport.
The information was provided to a Division Bench of the High Court. The Bench was told that a consensus on an underpass was reached in a joint meeting of the Indian Air Force, the Airport Authority of India and the state governments of Punjab and Haryana.
Haryana was demanding direct connectivity with the airport through an underpass from NH-21. For the purpose, it had sent a proposal to the Defence Ministry. But following objections from the Air Force authorities on the directions of an underpass, it could not be matured.
During the course of hearing, Assistant Solicitor-General of India, Chetan Mittal, told the court that the Centre was going to hold a meeting with the Dubai authorities by the January end on bilateral agreement regarding air operations. They were hopeful that an agreement would be reached on the allotment of Chandigarh-Dubai slot. Fly-Dubai was willing to launch the Chandigarh-Dubai flights, but the Centre had refused to give permission because of the non-availability of slots on this route in view of the bilateral agreement between the two countries.
Fly Dubai was, rather, willing to launch the Chandigarh-Dubai flight twice in a day within three weeks of getting necessary approvals from the Central Government. But its application seeking approval for launching operations from the Chandigarh airport is pending before the Centre since June 14 this year. Information to this effect was furnished by senior advocate Manmohan Lal Sarin on a previous date of hearing.
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