No date fixed yet for inauguration of Halwara Airport- Reports of postponement baseless: Dr. Amar Singh
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s direct intervention facilitated resumption of construction works in 2022
Mann advocated renaming the airport in honour of martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha—a proposal pending central approval
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 23, 2025: Dr. Amar Singh, Congress MP from Fatehgarh Sahib and Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee for Halwara and Sahnewal Airports, has clarified that no date has been finalized or proposed for the inauguration or commencement of operations at Halwara Civil Airport in Ludhiana district.
He expressed surprise over reports suggesting that the inauguration was postponed, terming them completely baseless and misleading.
Talking to Babushahi Network, Dr. Amar Singh stated that the Ministry of Civil Aviation has not yet granted final approval to start operations at Halwara Airport. Therefore, any claim regarding the Prime Minister inaugurating the airport virtually on July 27 is not grounded in fact.
Dr. Singh emphasized that Ludhiana MP Raja Amarinder Singh Warring, who is the Co-Chairman of the Civil Aviation Committee, would also be informed first in case any formal decision or date is finalized.
"Till date, neither I nor Warring have received any such communication from the Civil Aviation Ministry," he asserted.
He further clarified that there is no flight approval by AAI issued yet for the airport, and no virtual inauguration program involving the Prime Minister has been scheduled.He questioned how such speculative news could circulate when substantial work is still pending at the site.
Dr. Amar Singh who is actively associated with this project since 2018 has reiterated his commitment to getting Halwara Airport operational and assured that he is making all efforts to expedite the process.
However, as of now, there is no official word on when the airport will be inaugurated or become functional.
Halwara International Airport – Ludhiana, Punjab-Overview
- Location: Situated within the Indian Air Force’s Halwara base, about 32 km from Ludhiana, in Aitiana village.
- Dual-use Facility: Being developed as a civil enclave alongside military operations—one of the few such setups in India.
Rationale & Demand
- Ludhiana, a hub for textiles, bicycles, auto parts, and allied industries, has long suffered due to inadequate air links.
- Existing Sahnewal Airport lacks runway length and infrastructure. Halwara aims to bridge this connectivity gap.
Key Milestones
- Although the Project was conceived in 2010 but MoU was signed between the Punjab Government, AAI, and IAF to establish a civil terminal in 2018.
- December 2021: Punjab PWD awarded the construction contract.
CM Bhagwant Mann’s Commitment and Efforts
- Funding Push (Late 2022): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s direct intervention facilitated resumption of construction works
- Renaming Initiative (Sept 2024): Mann advocated renaming the airport in honour of martyr Kartar Singh Sarabha—a proposal pending central approval
- CM Man and his government repeatedly announced its commitment for starting flights from Halwara especially for the benefit of NRIs.