Chandigarh, November 7
Senior Congress leader and Ex-Chairman of Punjab Large Industrial Development Board, Pawan Dewan, has shot off a letter to the Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu requesting the opening of Halwara International Airport without any delay. In his letter, a copy of which was also released to the media, Dewan pointed out that there has been an inordinate delay in making the Halwara International Airport operational.
“Because of the delay, the residents of Ludhiana, particularly from the business community, are facing a lot of hassles. The Airport has already missed many deadlines. If the Airport is opened, it will be of immense benefit to the industrial town of Ludhiana”, Dewan pointed out, while adding that envisioned as a gateway to global connectivity for Ludhiana’s thriving industrial and business sectors, the Airport still remains non-operational, which has left the entrepreneurs grappling with logistical hurdles.
Dewan further said that the civil terminal was meant to fulfill a decade-old demand from Ludhiana’s business community. “With the city being a hub for textiles, manufacturing and exports, the lack of direct air connectivity has long been a bottleneck. The airport’s inauguration, initially scheduled for July 27, 2025, was deferred without explanation by the Airport Authority of India (AAI)”, he added.
Dewan highlighted that for Ludhiana’s exporters, industrialists and frequent flyers, the delay is more than an inconvenience—it’s a strategic setback. He said that without a functional airport, business travel involves long drives to Chandigarh or Amritsar, adding hours to itineraries and complicating client visits, cargo coordination and investor outreach. “Many firms report increased costs and lost deals due to the lack of timely air access”, he revealed.
In his letter, Dewan mentioned that it was promised that international connectivity would boost trade and tourism. “However, with airport deadlines being extended multiple times, the industrialists are stuck in limbo. Every month of delay costs industrialists not just money but credibility with global partners”, he said.
Dewan also said that although officials claim the airport will be operational soon, they have yet to give the exact inauguration timeline. “The business community is now urging authorities to expedite final approvals and ensure that Halwara Airport becomes a catalyst—not a casualty—of Punjab’s economic ambitions. Till the airport becomes operational, the hopes of Ludhiana remain grounded”, he concluded.
