Good News for Haryana: Flights to Four Cities from Ambala Airport Coming Soon

The domestic airport at Ambala Cantonment, developed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious "UDAN" scheme, will soon be operational. After years of effort by Haryana Cabinet Minister Anil Vij, all preparations have been completed, and flight services are expected to begin shortly. 

The airport infrastructure is fully ready with all security equipment, furniture, and necessary facilities installed. Only a few government formalities remain to be completed before the airport opens to the public.

Four Initial Destinations

The Ambala domestic airport will initially offer flights to four major destinations:

• Jammu
• Ayodhya
• Srinagar
• Lucknow 

These routes will initially operate using ATR 42 aircraft, with future expansion plans depending on passenger numbers. 

Land Acquisition and Infrastructure 

The Haryana government acquired 20 acres of land adjacent to the Air Force Station from the Army to establish this domestic airport. The Army had valued this land at Rs 133 crore. Under the MoU signed with the Armed Forces, the Haryana government will provide necessary infrastructure to the Army at the same value whenever required.

The airport terminal has been constructed next to the Air Force Station, with a taxi-way to transport passengers to their aircraft. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had initially sanctioned Rs 40 crore for the project, with additional funding provided as development progressed. 

Airlines Show Interest 

Several airlines have expressed interest in operating from Ambala Airport:

• Alliance Air has signed an agreement to operate flights to Jammu, Srinagar, Lucknow, and Ayodhya  
• Jet Airways has shown interest in starting services
• IndiGo has also been approached to begin operations 

Minister Vij mentioned that these airlines see Ambala as a profitable destination due to its location on GT Road and its status as a junction connecting multiple states including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Chandigarh. 

Expected Benefits 

The airport is expected to benefit not only Ambala residents but also people from surrounding districts. Currently, locals must travel to Chandigarh or Delhi for air travel. The new airport will:

• Provide significant advantages to business travelers
• Create employment opportunities for local residents
• Boost economic growth in the region 
• Improve transportation options for the area 

Minister Vij has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the airport and expressed confidence that the PM will attend the opening ceremony.