PM Modi Virtually Inaugurates Halwara Airport Civil Terminal in Punjab
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the civil terminal at Halwara airport in Punjab's Ludhiana district through a virtual ceremony. The event was marked by a renewed demand from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to name the airport after Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, a young martyr of India's freedom struggle.
Chief Minister's Demand for Naming After Freedom Fighter
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann emphasized that naming the Halwara airport after Kartar Singh Sarabha would be a fitting tribute to the revolutionary who was hanged by the British at the age of 19. Mann highlighted that Sarabha, a native of Ludhiana's Sarabha village, inspired other freedom fighters including Shaheed Bhagat Singh, who kept his photo in his pocket.
"This is also the soil of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, who was hanged by the British while fighting for the country's freedom," said Mann. He noted that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had unanimously passed a resolution on March 22, 2023, urging the Centre to name the Halwara airport after Sarabha.
Mann pointed out that Punjab already has three airports named after Gurus and martyrs: Sri Guru Ramdass International Airport in Amritsar, Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport in Adampur, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Airport in Mohali. He expressed that "Punjab will be elated and grateful" if the Centre approves the proposal for Halwara.
PM Modi's Remarks on Infrastructure Development
In a post on X in Punjabi, PM Modi stated, "The inauguration of the terminal building at Halwara Airport is a moment of immense joy for the people of Punjab, especially for Ludhiana and the surrounding areas." He described Ludhiana as an important industrial and commercial hub of northern India, renowned for its enterprising people.
Modi added that his government is working tirelessly to improve air connectivity to the city, which is reflected in the ongoing work for the modern airport. The civil terminal, developed at the Indian Air Force base in the Raikot subdivision of Ludhiana, is set to commence service in the first week of March with one flight to Delhi operated by Air India.
Renaming of Adampur Airport and PM's Visit
During the event, PM Modi also unveiled the new name of the Adampur airport in Jalandhar as Sri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji Airport. Following the presentation of the Union Budget in Parliament, Modi traveled from Delhi to Adampur and later visited Dera Sachkhand Ballan on the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Guru Ravidas.
Infrastructure Details and Future Plans
The civil enclave at Halwara is located in Aitiana village, where 162 acres of land was acquired from 272 farmers for the project. Villagers have long urged authorities to name it Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha Airport, Aitiana—a demand echoed by Mann.
Union Ministers present at the inauguration included Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu, and Ministers of State Murlidhar Mohol and Ravneet Singh Bittu. Bittu, who also serves as Union MoS for Railways and Food Processing Industries, supported the demand to name the airport after Sarabha and urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to begin cargo operations at Halwara.
"At present, industrialists from this region have to depend on Amritsar or Chandigarh airports for cargo movement. Halwara Airport will cater to the entire industrial belt and significantly reduce logistics costs," Bittu said. He added that given Ludhiana's strong industrial base, the airport is expected to handle more passenger and cargo traffic than anticipated.
Political Responses and Operational Readiness
Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring stated that the operationalization of the airport resulted from integrated efforts by multiple governments. He mentioned that the land for the civil terminal was acquired during the Congress regime. Warring explained his absence from the inauguration ceremony, saying as the local MP he expected a "respectful and unconditional invitation" without restrictions on speaking.
Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain confirmed that the terminal would cater to one domestic flight to Delhi and back, operated by Air India, with all required preparations made for operations to commence. Punjab Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora earlier noted that Air India has received necessary permissions from the IAF, with flights expected to start in the first week of March.
Mann also appealed to the Centre to strengthen international connectivity from Mohali Airport, emphasizing that improved air links are crucial for Punjab's economic growth.
