Chandigarh, Nov 11: Punjab’s push to turn aviation into a growth engine has begun to show results, with key projects revived and passenger traffic rising at major airports. Officials say the state’s investment of nearly ₹200 crore in the sector reflects a shift toward airport-led industrial corridors.
The long-delayed Halwara International Airport in Ludhiana has been one of the major projects revived under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration. Construction had nearly come to a halt by early 2022, but the state government released ₹60 crore to resume work. “We decided the project could not remain a file on paper,” an official close to the development said.
The airport’s interim terminal was completed in April 2025 and inaugurated in July. The assembly later voted to name it after freedom fighter Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha. Once fully functional, officials estimate it will create up to 10,000 direct and indirect jobs in Ludhiana’s manufacturing belt.
Meanwhile, Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport has posted a record surge in passengers — up 22.6% in 2024–25 to more than 3.5 million. New routes to Kuala Lumpur, London, Rome and Verona have improved the state’s global connectivity. In July 2024, AirAsia X gave the airport its “Best Station Award” among 24 international stations for maintaining a 95% on-time record.
Regional routes are also being revived. Flights have restarted from Adampur (Jalandhar) and Bathinda, with new links from Adampur to Mumbai and Jaipur. “The idea is to make air travel a part of everyday life across Punjab, not just in one or two cities,” said a civil aviation department official.
Under the broader 2022 Industrial and Business Development Policy, Punjab has prioritised building airport-linked industrial corridors to attract logistics and investment. The government has also spent about ₹200 crore to build an 8.5-km road connecting Chandigarh Airport to Mohali.
While supporters credit the AAP government for injecting new life into stalled projects, industry observers say sustained passenger demand and operational partnerships with airlines will determine how far Punjab’s aviation expansion can go.
