Close Down Airport, IF International Operations Not Commencing: HC
In a setback for the supporters of making Chandigarh Airport become international, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has strictly informed the airport authorities to either close operations or revert the airport to its original functioning.
The statement of the high court is in response to the inaction of the airport authorities to secure international operations for Chandigarh airport. The inaugural of the Chandigarh airport turning into an international one had been done with the visit of the French President to the City Beautiful. However, no progress has been made since then.
Objecting strongly to the inaction of the concerned authorities, Justice SS Saron has asked for a CBI inquiry into the management of funds and the inordinately long delay in turning the airport into international.
The High Court has made its recommendations after the filing of a PIL seeking information on how RS. 1400 crore were spent in making the Chandigarh airport turn international, made by the Mohali Industries Association. The Bench has asked the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to release details of number of airlines sought to turn the airport international.
Furthermore, the Bench has also sought the presence of Chetan Mittal, Assistant Solicitor-General of India and Atul Nanda, counsel for AAI, in the next scheduled meeting of DGCA, and to hand over the minutes of this meeting to the Court.
In addition to the above, the Court has further asked for details in regards to the 48 airlines already approached by the airport authorities. It has set April 7 for the next hearing in this aspect. The Court is also asking the concerned authorities to furnish details of RS. 1400 crore spent and has said that it will not hesitate in recommending a CBI investigation into the same, even if the airport starts its international flights. The Court is also seeking more details for Amritsar airport. It even pointed out to the fact that, the airport authorities will start international flights to Dubai and Bulgaria, even though, the demand of the people of the region, is for USA and Canadian destinations.
A March 28 meeting of the DGCA, held in Delhi, and its minutes, were offered before the Bench. In the meeting it was told that the DGCA had informed all scheduled domestic flights of the readiness of Chandigarh airport being able to handle international flights.
In this regards, Tigerair had displayed keen interest to start flights on the Chandigarh-Singapore route. However, no deadline had been fixed for the commencement of the same.
Another airline showing willingness to start international operations is Air India, however it is still waiting for approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Jet Airways, another big player of the region, has categorically said no to international operations via Chandigarh for the new financial year of 2016-17.
An airline willing to start operations is Indigo, though this is subject to workable openings available at Dubai and Mumbai airports.
Previously also, the Court had asked for a positive outcome, from the Union of India, to strongly accept the interest shown by airlines to start international operations. Moreover, the Court has sought a reply from the Centre within two weeks.