Chandigarh, July 09: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has urged the Ministry of Defence, Government of India to direct the Air Force authorities to extend the Air Traffic Control (ATC) watch hours of Chandigarh up to 0100 hrs IST for International flight operations from Chandigarh at the earliest.
Badal in a letter to the Union Defence Minister A.K.Antony said that the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India had already granted approval to the Chandigarh Airport as an International point of call to the designated airlines of UAE (Dubai) to commence International flight operations.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the Fly Dubai airline intends to start international operations from Chandigarh Airport from the third week of July, 2009. But, the Fly Dubai authorities have been denied permission by the Indian Air Force authorities because the present ATC watch hours at Chandigarh are up to 2000 hrs irrespective of the sunset timings whereas the Fly Dubai’s aircraft intends landing at Chandigarh at 2330 hrs and departing from Chandigarh at 0030 hrs. IST.
The Ministry of External Affairs had acknowledged the same to the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. The extension of ATC hours would fulfill the long pending demand of the state and the area for the commencement of International flights from Chandigarh, added the Chief Minister.
–Agencies