Amritsar's Rajasansi international airport to get land required for expansion

Amritsar: The Rajasansi airport at Amritsar may soon acquire its international status in reality, and not just in name, with the state government ready to transfer at least 45 acres of land for its expansion and modernisation. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has been requesting transfer of this parcel of land for sometime in order to complete modernisation work at the Amritsar International Airport (AIA).

Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, KS Pannu, said notification for the land could be issued at any time.

''The land is being acquired and formalities have been completed and soon the land will be handed over to the AAI,'' said Pannu, adding that the chief minister, Prakash Singh Badal, had promised the land during his last visit to the airport.

The AAI had requested acquisition of 45 acres immediately as part of the airport's infrastructural development following grant of international status to the airport a few years back.

AAI director (Amritsar) Arun Talwar said they had written to the state government several times in this regard, as the land was required for the smooth functioning of the airport. ''Though we have received no communication from the DC office so far, it is true that the land is being given to us,'' he confirmed.

''Seeing the rising number of passengers and NRIs visiting home, more airlines are lining up to start their operations from here. We need the land for the airport's operational wings,'' he said.

Talwar also said that work on the Rs100-crore upgrade was moving on a war footing.