Halwara Airport Development 100% Complete with ₹60 Crore Investment by AAP Government: Sanjeev Arora
AAP Government Achieves in 3 Years What Took 30 Years to Deliver: Sanjeev Arora
MP Arora Inspects Halwara Airport Alongside Citizens, Councillors, and Industrialists
Chandigarh/Ludhiana, April 27
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, accompanied by Ludhiana residents, municipal councillors, and industrialists, visited Halwara Airport on Sunday to assess the progress of its development. During the visit, Arora toured the airport facilities and expressed full satisfaction with the completed work.
Arora highlighted that the project, stalled for nearly three decades due to inaction by previous state governments, was prioritized immediately after he became a Rajya Sabha MP. With the backing of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the project has now been fully completed at a cost of approximately ₹60 crores.
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Describing it as a dream project of CM Mann, Arora noted that the initial design included a barbed wire fence around the airport. However, following an Airports Authority of India (AAI) inspection in March 2025, the fence was replaced with a concrete boundary wall. Additional suggestions from the AAI are being implemented and are expected to be finalized soon.
Arora announced that the next AAI inspection is scheduled for April 30, 2025. Once the Public Works Department hands over the airport to the AAI, staff deployment will commence.
The AAI plans to initially operate two daily flights—one in the morning and one in the afternoon—connecting Ludhiana to Delhi and onward to Europe, the US, Canada, and Australia. Arora emphasized that this connectivity will significantly boost the economy of Punjab, particularly the Malwa region and Ludhiana. He expressed optimism that flight operations could begin within the next two to three months.
The airport has been assigned the code “HWR.” On the issue of naming the airport, Arora clarified that the state government can propose a name, but the final decision lies with the central government.
Addressing queries, Arora confirmed that the airport is equipped with a CAT-II Instrument Landing System, enabling operations in low-visibility conditions. The taxiway can accommodate two aircraft simultaneously, and the current infrastructure supports up to 12 daily flights, with ample scope for future expansion.
Industrialists and municipal councillors accompanying Arora lauded his efforts, attributing the project’s completion entirely to his dedication.
Kamal Oswal of Oswal Group praised Arora’s tireless work, stating that the airport’s completion will drive economic growth across Punjab, particularly in Ludhiana, a hub for import and export businesses. He emphasized that air connectivity is critical for all business sectors.
Gagan Khanna of Arisudana Industries Ltd described the visit as an “eye-opener,” expressing hope that the airport will revitalize a region neglected for decades due to poor connectivity. He credited Arora for reviving a project dormant for over 40 years.
Exporter Rajesh Aggarwal predicted a significant increase in Ludhiana’s exports once the airport becomes operational, hailing Arora’s achievement.
Municipal Councillors Tanvir Singh Dhaliwal, Bhupinder Singh Kainth, Gurpreet Babbal, and Satnam Sunny Master echoed these sentiments, noting that the airport, a long-discussed but unrealized project for 30-40 years, has finally taken shape due to Arora’s commitment. They described the airport as a game-changer for Ludhiana and Punjab’s economy, urging the public to recognize Arora’s milestone contribution.
