Sites shortlisted for Ambala airport

Nitin Jain

Tribune News Service

Ambala, July 3

More than a year after the district administration gave approval for a domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment, it has shortlisted a site for the project.

The requirement is to acquire at least four acres in the vicinity of Indian Air Force (IAF) station, the air strip of which will be used as the runaway for the upcoming airport.

In June last year, the Centre had approved a domestic airport in Ambala Cantt under the Udaan 3.0 scheme.

Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma led a team of district, civil and revenue officials to visit the proposed sites on Friday and evinced interest in acquiring land in Garnala, Barnala and Dhankaur villages, and military areas, which are in the close proximity to the IAF station.

“We visited a vacant military land which is close to the IAF station. If the Army and IAF authorities agree, the land can be used for the project,” the DC told The Tribune after conducting the visit.

He said as per preliminary projections, at least four acres were required for the construction of the terminal building. “If more land is available, more facilities will be added to the airport.”

The DC also met sarpanches of Garnala, Barnala and Dhankaur villages and urged them to pass resolutions in their panchayats to offer vacant land for the airport.

“We also met private landowners and asked them to voluntarily offer their vacant land, for which they will be paid as per the market rate,” he said, adding that the district administration would issue a land acquisition notice for the finalised land.