Ambala Domestic Airport: Defence Ministry Grants Land Use Permission

After nearly five months since former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar laid the foundation stone for the domestic airport in Ambala Cantonment, there's been a significant development. The Union Ministry of Defence (MoD) has granted working permission to the Haryana Civil Aviation Department, allowing the use of defence land to connect the civil enclave with the apron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) station.

This permission, initially granted for a period of five years, enables mutual use of the existing road within the IAF station. Passengers can now be transported via bus from the terminal to the aircraft apron, enhancing connectivity between the civil enclave and the IAF station.

In a communication dated March 22, the MoD shared the sanction by the President of India, allowing the use of defence land measuring 0.63 acre on a license basis. This decision marks a significant step forward, facilitating cooperation between the IAF and the civil aviation department.

A Board of Officers (BOO), comprising officials from the IAF, civil aviation, and district administration, will oversee the demarcation of land and ascertain various factors such as land area, cost, security measures, and more. This process is expected to be completed within four weeks from the issuance of the working permission.

Under the permission granted, the land will be mutually used by the IAF and the Haryana Civil Aviation Department, with rights of access and use of road, while ownership remains with the defence authorities.

This approval comes as a significant boost after the recent sanction for the use of 20 acres of defence land adjacent to the IAF station for the construction of the terminal. The civil enclave, sanctioned under the RCS-UDAN 3.0 scheme, will utilize the IAF airstrip for flight operations.

The Ambala airport project, situated around 50 km from Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali, was approved in December 2018. However, it faced delays primarily due to land-related issues near the strategically important IAF base housing Rafale aircraft.

This development marks a significant stride towards enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in the region, promising better air travel facilities for the residents of Ambala and beyond.